DANCING

By Brandon Petersen

The Westcliff men's basketball team punched its ticket the California Pacific Conference tournament last week with a pair of four-point wins at Cal Maritime (78-74) and Pacific Union (80-76).

Saturday at PUC, the entire starting lineup put in work, starting with Micaiah Hankins, who had a team-high 19.

Both Evan Hoosier (12 rebounds) and Marques Sales turned in 14 and both Rayven Turner and Aaron Strings had 11.

Jeramiah Paulino came off the bench and provided nine.

"Road victories are hard to come by," Westcliff head coach Jerred Cook said. "Especially competing against a team that held their Senior Night while being filled with electric players who are tough to defend.

"I'm glad we were able to secure the victory after a slow start."

Thursday at Maritime, it was Turner's show, as the forward went off for 23 on 8-of-15 shooting including a pair of triples.

Hoosier chimed in with 12 and Paulino had 13.

Cook says the Warriors overcame a lot of adversity on the NorCal two-step, including some arduous travel, a late tip-off and a rolled ankle.

"Our guys found a way to push through," Cook said. "Finding a way to win close games should pay dividends for us later."

The Dubs are now 6-2 in Cal Pac play with two home contests against Simpson and UC Merced, the two teams Westcliff lost to on the road.

Westcliff has already wrapped up second-place in the league, but they have a chance at the regular season crown if they can get a little help along the way.

The Bobcats are currently 8-0 and would have to lose their last two.

Not impossible, but not likely.

However, the Warriors will get another shot at Merced before the tournament, this Saturday on Senior Night.

A win there could put the Warriors between the ears of the Bobcats heading into the tournament.

The bottom line is, Westcliff controls its own destiny, and after a year of adversity, that's music to dance to.