Hancock Men's Basketball Hosts Four Ranked Teams During Annual Holiday Classic Dec. 28-30

Three men's basketball teams ranked in the top 17 in California, and a fourth squad ranked 14^th in Southern California will be showcased next week during the 51^st annual Holiday Classic hosted by Allan Hancock College. The Bulldogs will host Bakersfield, Cerritos, Cuesta, Fresno City and Rio Hondo from Monday, Dec. 28 through Wednesday, Dec. 30. Each team will play three games, one each day, inside Joe White Memorial Gymnasium.

The Bulldogs are 7-7 overall after their fourth place finish last weekend in Modesto. Hancock opens against Rio Hondo at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28, before taking on Fresno City College, the 14^th ranked team in California, on Tuesday. The Bulldogs will face Bakersfield, the No. 13 team in the state, on Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 5 p.m.

Bakersfield is off to a 9-2 start and ranked No. 13 in California and seventh in Southern California. The Renegades have four players averaging 11.5 points or more per game. Forward Deandre Dickson averages 17.6 points and ranks fifth in California at 10.1 rebounds per game. Guard Jameik Riviere averages 16.5 points and leads the state with 8.4 assists per contest.

Cuesta enters the tournament 11-5 overall and ranked 17^th in the most recent state poll. The Cougars are led by Karem Ozel who's averaging 13.8 points per game, and center Roberto Mantovani who's averaging 13.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Cuesta lost to Fresno City College in the championship game of the Modesto Junior College Tournament last weekend.

Fresno is ranked No. 14 in the state and seventh in Northern California. The Grizzlies are 11-5 overall and winners of six straight games. BJ Shelton is the team's top scorer at 15.3 points per game. Aaron Cameron scored 22 points for Fresno during its 88-84 win over Hancock last weekend.

Ranked 14^th in the South Region, Cerritos enters 8-5 overall, including a 60-58 win at Hancock this preseason. Dilon Reise is the team's top scorer at 12.3 points per game.

Rio Hondo is off to a 7-9 start. Forward Leo Maidana is the team's top scorer at 16.1 points per game.

Freshman guard Malik Rhodes remains Hancock's top scorer at 15.1 points per game. Sophomore guard Matt Willkomm sits second at 12.8 points and freshman Shane Carney averages 9.6 points per game. Carney averaged 14 points, Rhodes 14.5 points and Willkomm 15.0 points per game during Hancock's four games at last weekend's tournament.  Rhodes led the Bulldogs with 21 points, Willkomm had 17 and Jeremiah Headley added 16 in the four-point loss to Fresno.

51^st Annual AHC Holiday Classic Schedule

Monday, Dec. 28

3 p.m. – Cuesta vs. Bakersfield

5 p.m. – Cerritos vs. Fresno City

7 p.m. – Hancock vs. Rio Hondo

Tuesday, Dec. 29

3 p.m. – Bakersfield vs. Cerritos

5 p.m. – Rio Hondo vs. Cuesta

7 p.m. – Hancock vs. Fresno City

Wednesday, Dec. 30

1 p.m. – Cerritos vs. Rio Hondo

3 p.m. – Cuesta vs. Fresno City

5 p.m. – Hancock vs. Bakersfield