Franklyn Chambers and Jacob Topete combined for 10 steals in LBCC’s best defensive performance of the season to help take down the Cypress Chargers 68-58.
This win gives LBCC its first of the season as they now have a 1-3 record to end its four-game road trip to start the year.
LBCC took a 29-27 lead going into halftime, but they had to overcome a 10-point lead to get there as Cypress opened the game strong to start the contest.
Freshman guard Jacob Topete led the offense for LBCC in the first half as he came off the bench, scoring 10 points while also getting a steal, which would be his first of four on the night.
“I knew what my role was, I wanted to bring out that energy and play defense and I knew that was gonna win us the game today,” Topete said after the game.
Topete had his best game of the season so far, scoring 13 points, one rebound, two assists, and four steals.
The second half had LBCC freshman guard Franklyn Chambers’ name written all over it, scoring 18 points with many coming off the fast break while getting four steals and two rebounds.
Chambers tallied 20 points, three rebounds, and six steals on the night.
To go along with Chambers’ phenomenal second-half performance, LBCC guard Brandon Cerda also wanted to join in on the fun, scoring 11 points, one rebound, three assists, and one steal in the half.
LBCC’s defense was on point today as a whole, as even though they were out-rebounded by Cypress 36-19, Cypress couldn’t get anything to go in the net and got the ball stolen 16 times in the game, with Chambers and Topete combining for 10 of them.
“We wanted to have a good Thanksgiving. Yeah, have a good Thanksgiving and come and compete,” LBCC head coach Barry Barnes jokingly said after the game.
“We need to continue to play good defense, to continue to get help off the bench and win 50/50 battles in a rebound,” Barnes said as this is the gameplan going into their home opener.
Barnes and his Vikings will look to win that home opener on Nov. 28 when they take on Canyons and show the LBCC home crowd what they have in store for an exciting season.