LEMOORE – A run towards a state championship continues for the West Hills College Lemoore men's basketball team.
James Nichols totaled 29 points and 9 rebounds to help lead the No. 13-seeded Golden Eagles to an 89-83 win over visiting No. 20 San Joaquin Delta College on Wednesday in an opening-round game of the Northern California Regional Playoffs.
West Hills next heads to the Bay Area to take on No. 4 San Jose City College in a second-round playoff matchup on Saturday (March 2) at 7 p.m. Ticket prices for the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) postseason game are $12 for general admission and $8 for all identified students, faculty, staff, senior citizens age 60 and over, and children under 12 years old.
The game will also be streamed live online free by NorCalSports TV on YouTube.
San Jose had a first-round bye and enters the postseason with a 21-7 overall record. The Jaguars finished tied for second place in the Coast Conference South Division at 8-4.
West Hills and San Jose will be meeting for the first time this season. The winner would take on either No. 5 Yuba College or No. 12 Skyline College in Round 3.
Wednesday night's victory improved West Hills to 18-10 overall. The Golden Eagles held a 10-point advantage (51-41) at halftime and were able to hold off a late surge by Delta.
Nichols added 3 steals and a pair of blocks to his big game. Kesean Bazile had 20 points, 4 boards, and 4 assists while Trey Booker-Lowery recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Terry Mosley was solid with 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists and Marques Greene chipped in with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Two more wins are needed by the Golden Eagles to advance to the 3C2A State Championships on March 15-17 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.
