COLLEGE BASKETBALL : Second Effort Lifts LACC Over Trade Tech, 69-58

Los Angeles City College is playing the best basketball among local community colleges. But before the third-ranked team in the state could stake its claim to No. 1 in the area, it had to beat last year’s best, Trade Tech.

After trailing 39-32 at halftime, LACC scored the first nine points of the second half en route to a 69-58 win Friday night in a Southern California Athletic Conference game at Trade Tech.

“We picked up the intensity in the second half because we knew whoever wanted to win the most would,” said LACC guard Markee Brown, who scored a game-high 19 points. “Tonight, I had to step up my game.”

Forward Terry Green, who led the Beavers with 18 points, shouldered much of the offensive burden for Trade Tech (12-11, 0-1 in conference) in the second half. Green hit back-to-back three pointers to bring Trade Tech to within two, 45-43, early in the second half. Green also had five rebounds and two steals and scored 12 points in the first half to help give Trade Tech an early 18-14 advantage.

After Trade Tech’s second-half scoring run, Brown capped a 14-7 LACC run with a short baseline jumper to increase the Cubs’ lead to 59-50.

Sai Tuialii scored 18 points, 14 in the second half, for LACC (19-3, 1-0).

L.A. CITY COLLEGE--Muhammad 4, Bean 2, Higgins 9, Brown 19, Tuialii 18, Moore 2, Dorsey 8, Thomas 2, Cotwright 5.

TRADE TECH--Lew 10, Dawson 3, Crutchfield 9, Green 18, Wesby 5, Yoakum 2, Martin 4, Wade 2, McDowell 5.

Records: LACC 19-3, 1-0 in conference; Trade Tech 12-11, 0-1.