By Lloyd Cobb Jr.
lcobb1@mail.ccsf.edu
When the final buzzer echoed through Mt. San Antonio’s gym on March 16, the celebration was less an explosion and more an exhale.
For the City College Rams, their 75-58 victory over Fullerton College in the 2025 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) state championship game wasn’t just another win. It was validation, vengeance and victory — the sixth time over.
“I wouldn’t say relief, but it was a deep breath,” head coach Justin Labagh said. “This one was a two-year project. It took everything these guys had.”
After heartbreaking losses to Fullerton in the 2019 and 2023 playoffs, City College entered the 2024-25 season with unfinished business. And they didn’t just finish it—they wrote the ending in bold.
The Rams opened the championship game with suffocating defense, their signature full-court press forcing Fullerton into rushed shots and costly mistakes. By halftime, San Francisco had built a 32-23 lead, their defense holding Fullerton to just 34% shooting in the first half.
“After the first five minutes, I knew they weren’t ready for our pressure,” Labagh said. “We forced them to play faster than they wanted, and once they were on their heels, we stayed there.”
City College never let up. In the second half, the Rams poured in 43 points, pulling away behind the steady hands of sophomore guard Miles Amos, who finished with 20 points on 5-for-11 shooting, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.
Remarkable Redemption
It was fitting that Amos delivered the knockout blow. After battling through two ACL tears and years of grueling rehab, his return to the floor was a victory in itself. That he would become the team’s offensive engine on the biggest stage was nothing short of remarkable.
“Everything he’s been through — two ACL surgeries — and then he comes back and leads us to a championship?” Labagh said. “He is the biggest success story I don’t know, maybe we’ve ever seen.”
Amos not only returned from back-to-back ACL injuries but was named league MVP in consecutive seasons — a feat never accomplished before in program history.
“I was out two years,” Amos said. “To come back and win this with these guys… it means everything.”
He added five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, doing a little bit of everything for a Rams squad that outworked, outhustled, and outlasted Fullerton in every phase of the game.
While Amos carried the scoring load, City College’s depth and defensive intensity wore Fullerton down. Rickey Mitchell Jr. contributed 14 points, knocking down 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. Forward John Squire added 13 points and 6 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends. King-Njhsanni Wilhite chipped in 7 points, including a clutch three that opened up the game in the second half.
Wilhite’s growth throughout the season stood out to Labagh.
“King had to make some changes for someone else to come in and invest in him,” Labagh said. “Sometimes there are trust issues with guys not being held accountable by their former coaches. King grew up and kept up with the standard every step of the way.”
Dominic Williams scored 8 points off the bench in 16 minutes, giving the Rams a spark when they needed it. In all, 13 Rams saw the floor, and 10 scored, epitomizing the team-first mentality Labagh has preached for two decades.
City College held Fullerton to just 58 points, well below their season average. The Rams forced 11 turnovers and grabbed 38 rebounds to Fullerton’s 27. Their relentless press kept Fullerton out of rhythm, and their half-court defense denied easy looks.
“We wanted to be professional,” Labagh said during a timeout as his team built a 20-point lead. “Don’t screw around and let it go back to 10.”
That discipline, combined with the relentless pace and pressure, has become the hallmark of Labagh’s program. This was City College’s sixth state championship under Labagh — more than any other coach in CCCAA history, surpassing the legendary Jerry Tarkanian.
A Legacy
Labagh now stands alone with six titles, passing Tarkanian’s five. And yet, he’s not ready to talk legacy.
“Jerry Tarkanian did it in probably six years,” Labagh said. “It took me 21. That guy was an amazing coach and went on to win a national championship at Division I.”
Consistency is an understatement for the Rams program. Since taking over in 2004, Labagh’s teams have reached the Elite Eight an astounding 14 times and the Final Four 11 times, including five appearances in the championship game.
“We’ve had some great teams,” Labagh said. “But this group — what they did over two years — it’s special.”
As the team cut down the nets in Lemoore, the next generation of Rams was already on Labagh’s mind.
“We’ve never gone back-to-back,” he said. “That would be something that would be fun.”
With over 60 players transferring to NCAA Division I programs under Labagh’s watch, the pipeline remains strong. Players like Amos and Mitchell could be next in line for scholarships at the next level.
But even as they move on, they leave behind a legacy etched in banners, championships, and belief.
But Labagh isn’t finished yet. “We’re recruiting tomorrow,” he said, with a grin. “That’s how we do it.”