Take a look at a new portfolio web site I made.
It consists of photos taken from 2007-2010 with Mt. SAC and Cal Poly Pomona sports.
Of the 15,000 photos gathered, I managed to upload some for your viewing pleasure … there will be more to come.
http://jameschoynews.jalbum.net/James-Choy-Sports/
PHOTO BY JAMES CHOY - Men's basketball head coach Allen Caveness calls the shots in his first year coaching at Mt. SAC.
The keyword for this 2009-2010 season is discipline, as echoed by both Laquenten ‘DJ’ Jones and Ariel Hall, two of the four sophomores in the Mounties’ lineup.
This basketball team at Mt. SAC is not the team we’ve all known from the previous years.
The class of the recent past were pressed in the ranks of mediocrity unfortunately. Despite notable names such as Rishawn Norwood, Donte Smith, Aiona Key and Versia Hodges, the acquisition of a coach like Caveness is something that the school needed.
And the need for a winning season is already being attained. With just four losses in the 25 total games played so far, Caveness has changed the face of Mounties basketball in such a short time.
The time was so short that it took less than a couple of months to overhaul the roster and establish a new game plan and strategy to what it was. Caveness needed to acquire some players that had the stamina and the endurance to go two full halves of hard-pressed basketball.
Instantly, by looking at a few of the players who came in this past summer, Caveness is already making that impact to the program.
Two of those returners in particular–Rashad Bias and Ariel Hall, along with Jones, a sophomore transfer, are included to the new freshmen class that Caveness has brought. The roster is nice and consists of players with a different array of skills.
Forward Kaimyn Pruitt and guard Antonio Biglow (and a few others) provide a solidified starting five that possess agility and intensity that hasn’t been seen during the school’s recent history.
PHOTO BY JAMES CHOY - Mounties basketball head coach Allen Caveness motions for a full court press during a game against Pasadena on Jan. 27, 2010. The Mounties won the game by a score of 91-86.
Caveness has brought that.
And credit to the assistance of former interim coach Criss Freeman and assistant coach Keith Hollimon, this Mounties team exhibits a new look to the future of Mt. SAC basketball.
On the first week of practice, no members of media were allowed to be present and understandably as I was, I had to respect what Caveness was doing–creating a privacy, a sanctuary in which the players aren’t distracted nor sidetracked by outside entities.
While it may have been a bummer to not watch what the training and practice is like, it’s understandable and respectable to know that Caveness is all business.
With most coaches, going to a new school to start anew is something that takes time when trying to create a winning team.
Caveness has done it in quickness. You could say with what he’s done up to this point is something … yes … like a godsend.
Let’s thank him for making his first season as a Mounties coach a great one.
Although it isn’t known that the Mounties have won anything, the direction the program is heading is surely going to join the ranks of other successful programs here on campus. Women’s basketball, softball, soccer, cross-country, track and field and football have consistently brought success to the college (no knocking on the other programs) year in and year out.
Caveness is going to fit himself right in perfectly and contribute to the success of Mt. SAC’s athletic program.
With a (21-4) overall record and a (5-0) record in conference play, there’s still more work to be done.
Women’s basketball has thrived in glory many years previously … now let’s shake our fists in optimism and push men’s basketball in that same limelight.
ILLUSTRATED BY JAMES CHOY
The Mt. SAC men’s basketball team are currently top in the standings in the South Coast Conference and are undefeated amongst both the South and North division.
With a (21-4) overall record and a (5-0) conference record, much of the credit goes to their new head coach Allen Caveness, who was picked up before the season.
After the failure to get into the playoffs last year, the acquisition of a new coach meant change and reconstruction for the program.
Caveness brought in an array of players who each possessed a certain kind of skill that contributed to making this Mounties team something to see.
THE MEN AND THE STATS
(As indicated from Jcscores.com)
In the backcourt, sophomore Laquenten Jones and freshman Antonio Biglow are arguably the best 1-2 punch in the state. Both players combined bring a fast-tempo game consisting of defense, speed and versatility in the attack.
The duo combined average almost 6 steals a game and are ranked in the top five in the conference (both North and South division combined.) Jones is second in the conference with 3.1 steals a game while Biglow averages 2.6 steals respectively.
PHOTO BY JAMES CHOY - Sophomore guard Laquenten Jones dishes out a pass during the Mounties win over Pasadena on Jan. 29 at Mountie Gym.
Biglow leads the team and is third in the conference in 3-point shooting with a 38% percentage. Biglow has shot 125 times behind the arc and has made 47 of the shots.
In high point games, Biglow has scored more than anyone in the conference (37) while Jones had 25 earlier in the season. Their other teammate, freshman Kaimyn Pruitt scored 23 and has also provided a lot on both ends of the court.
Pruitt’s speed and low-post game has made him a threat both inside the key and in the perimeter. His long wingspan makes him an effective low-post defender and his ability to run–in some cases during the fast break makes him a great all-around player. At six-feet-seven inches, Pruitt and teammate Joshua White are eighth and ninth in blocked shots.
Both Pruitt and White are also ranked eighth and ninth in the conference in rebounds and provide a defensive presence with Jones and Biglow protecting the top of the key.
White is 59-for-99 in field goal percentage and is ranked third in the conference. His teammate, Demarkus Isomjones has been a spark both in the offense and defense and has the most field goal attempts than any player in the conference. Isomjones is 115-for-194 and ranks fourth behind White which makes the starting five for the Mounties a potent and dangerous pack.
The stats speak for themselves. But Caveness is making sure the players stay level-headed and unified.
The Mounties have an excellent chance to go into the post-season with confidence and a great shot at the state title–something that hasn’t been heard of for quite awhile at Mt. SAC.
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