El Camino Clips Mt. SAC to Break Losing Streak

The last time El Camino College won a basketball game was Jan. 12 against Mt. San Antonio College in a South Coast Conference opener.

On Saturday night at Walnut, the Warriors opened the second round of league play with a 72-63 victory over Mt. SAC, the last-place team in the five-member conference.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for El Camino, which improved to 18-10 overall and 2-3 in SCC play. The Mounties are 13-14 and 1-4.

“The kids worked real hard for this one,” El Camino Coach Ron McClurkin said. “At the end I think (Mt.SAC) just got frustrated because they couldn’t score when they thought they should.”

Forward Michael Houck sparked the Warriors in the first half with his perimeter shooting. The sophomore from Redondo High entered the game in a shooting slump, but scored 15 of his 25 points before halftime.

Houck’s three-point basket gave El Camino its first lead, 15-13, with 12:14 left before half. The Warriors later trailed by eight, but Houck hit a 17-foot jump shot from the top of the key and a three-point basket to bring El Camino within three. The Warriors led, 35-34, at the half.

“We really needed that from Mike,” McClurkin said. “He shot so well I just hope it’s not a fluke. I hope he can do it again.”

A zone defense and Keishaun Darthard’s scoring kept El Camino going in the second half. On several possessions, Mt. SAC failed to get off a shot before the shot clock expired.

The Mounties scored only one field goal in the last four minutes of the game, a three-point basket by point guard Jason Ferguson with five seconds left.

“We tried six different things and nothing worked,” Mt. SAC Coach Ralph Ostercamp said. “We were stuck on 57 points forever.”

El Camino went on a 10-3 run in the final minutes to secure the victory. Darthard, the only other Warrior to score in double figures, had 20 points. Mt. SAC was led by power forward Tony McGee, who had 23.