Hancock Tops Bakersfield 67-54, Advances to Championship at Cuesta Tournament

Behind 17 points from Warren Dix and a 16 point effort from Andre Miller, the Allan Hancock College men's basketball team defeated Bakersfield 67-54 in the championship semifinals at Cuesta College on Saturday night. The Bulldogs improved to 2-0 under first-year head coach Tyson Aye and advanced to Sunday's championship game at the 45^th annual Rabobank Basketball Classic. The Bulldogs are in position for their first title at Cuesta's tournament.

Dix caught fire in the first half and drained four 3-point buckets and finished with 13 points in the first 20 minutes of the game. Miller, a freshman guard, and freshman forward Isaiah Hicks scored 8 points each in the first half. Hancock carried a 37-24 lead into halftime.

Bakersfield cut the deficit to seven and eight points in the second half. But each time Hancock responded. Dix buried a 3-pointer and drew a foul to complete a 4-point play, his second of the game, to pad the lead. Sophomore guard Yukijiro Yashiro drove to the hoop to score three buckets to regain the momentum for the Bulldogs. Yashiro finished witih 6 points. Marquis Rivera added 7 points, while sophomore Josh Varney finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds.  Hicks finished with 8 points and 9 rebounds. 

Hancock buried 9 of its 20 shots from 3-point range. Dix went 5 for 12 from beyond the arc. Hicks and Miller each drained two from long range. 

The Bulldogs pulled down an impressive 19 offensive rebounds, including 6 from Varney and 5 from Hicks.  Hancock was 8 for 14 from the free thrown line, while Bakersfield made half of its 16 attempts from the charity stripe.

Hancock plays West Hills for the title on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 5 p.m.  West Hills edged West Valley 71-70 in the semifinals to set up the matchup for the crown.