MEN-BASKETBALL GAME PREVIEW.
The Dons make the playoffs for the first time in two years.
Despite a three-game skid to end the season, the Dons are playoff bound.
The No. 20 Dons will play conference rival Irvine Valley College, ranked No.13, in the opening round of the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs.
The two regular season meetings were split. Each game the road team won.
Head Coach David Breig isn’t worried.
“If I was Irvine I’d be more worried about us then we are of them,” Breig said.
The Dons and Lasers play an opposing brand of basketball. The Dons are a run-and-gun offense that plays up-tempo to maximize possessions. Eating up the shot clock with ball movement in half court sets is the Lasers’ style of scoring.
“Playoffs are all about match ups and we match up well against Irvine,” Breig said.
The Dons are looking for the bench to carry. In their previous matchup the Dons had huge contributions from reserve forward Chase Miller and combo guard Cammie Lewis. Both came of the bench and scored 18 points.
Lewis was recently named to the second team All-Orange Empire Conference and is averaging 12 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4 assists per game.
“I consider myself a big part of this team,” the combo guard said. “We all have our own roles and I feel I have a big role.”
The Dons will be getting Miler back after he missed the last game against Saddleback with a deep thy bruise.
The Dons last made the playoffs two years ago. They advanced two rounds before being eliminated. None of the players on the current roster have played in a college playoff game.
“Our goal was to make the playoffs,” team captain, Kevin Ramirez said. “We’re really confident and looking to make a run.”
Despite having no playoff experience, the Dons looked loose and relaxed in practice on Tuesday. It was just like a regular season practice.
But nobody is playing down the importance of tomorrow’s game.
“I hate to use the term life or death but this is it,” Breig said. “And for our sophomores we don’t want to make this our last game.”
The game will be played at Irvine Valley College, Wednesday night at 7 p.m
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