SCC North Dominates Crossover Challenge With ELAC, PCC Title Wins

The 16-team, Crossover Challenge Tournament became an all-South Coast Conference championship finals in the White and Blue Brackets. With state No. 6 ranked East Los Angeles College (Blue) and No. 9 rated Pasadena City (White) winning the respective tourney bracket titles Friday night, the SCC North Division is showing once again why it's the state's strongest conference.

ELAC (17-4) rolled over No. 15 and tourney host El Camino (SCC South), 71-51, as the Huskies were led by Tournament Blue MVP Dominique Godbolt's 13 points and 16 rebounds while All-Tournament selections Jaelynn Curley and Adriana Gonzalez added 12 and six points respectively. ELAC has won seven straight games going into the start of conference play. ECC (13-5) was paced by Jordan Hixon who tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds. 

Pasadena (15-3) upset No. 5-ranked and defending SCC North champ LA Trade Tech, 65-58, behind a record-setting performance by Tournament White MVP Dariel Johnson in the final played at Cerritos College. The sophomore center recorded the Lancers first-ever points-rebounds-blocks triple-double on 28 points, 18 rebounds and 12 blocks (also a school record) as she rallied her team from a 10-point deficit in the second half. All-Tournament choices Mariah Cathcart and Cosette Balmy each added 16 points in the final. 

For Trade Tech (17-3), Cheyenne Givens scored a team-high 23 points as the Beavers saw a 5-game win streak snapped. 

Another SCC North team, No. 11-ranked Mt. San Antonio, grabbed third place in the Blue Bracket behind a 66-62 win over Canyons. Natalia Shpegel led Mt. SAC (14-5) with 17 points. 

The South Coast Conference all but consumes the top of the SoCal RPI ratings. After No. 1-rated Moorpark, the SCC occupies the next five spots in No. 2 Pasadena, No. 3 El Camino, No. 4 East LA, No. 5 LA Trade Tech, and No. 6 Mt. SAC. Other high-rated SCC schools are Rio Hondo at No. 14 and Cerritos in the No. 16 slot. 

PCC Lancers after their Crossover Challenge White Bracket Tourney win.