Glendale Continues to Make a Statement

The dream is alive and well for the Glendale College men’s basketball team.

The Vaqueros moved to within one game of the state tournament Wednesday night with an 85-69 victory over Hancock in the second round of the Southern California Regional playoffs at Glendale.

The 11th-seeded Vaqueros (18-13), seeking their first berth in the final eight since 1985, will meet third-seeded Mt. San Jacinto at 7 p.m. Saturday in Hemet.

Mt. San Jacinto beat Palomar, 108-103.

“It’s like a fairy tale,” Glendale guard Tony Hoggatts said. “When we were losing earlier in the season, we didn’t know we could go this far. But now everyone is stepping up.”

Juan Corleto scored 24 points and made six of 10 three-point shots for Glendale.

Hoggatts scored 19 points, making three of six three-point shots, and had five assists.

Corleto’s outside shooting helped the Vaqueros stretch a 39-34 halftime lead to 17 in the second half.

“He’s not afraid to take the big shots and he knows when it’s needed in the game,” Glendale Coach Brian Beauchemin said.

Glendale wasn’t about to underestimate the Bulldogs (13-18), seeded No. 27, after they upset sixth-seeded Antelope Valley, 87-84, in the first round.

“We didn’t take them for granted,” Corleto said. “We played like they were No. 1 in the state.”

Hoggatts said the Vaqueros’ games against top-ranked Bakersfield have given them confidence. They lost three of four to Bakersfield, but all the games were close.

Despite the fact that Mt. San Jacinto will be favored, the Vaqueros like their chances.

“Nobody expected us to get this far,” Corleto said.