Inland Empire Athletic Conference action
The Inland Empire Athletic Conference will start up today as nine teams will start up their quest for the 2021-2022 conference title. Three teams have winning records as non conference action has ended and eight teams will be in action later on tonight. In 2019-2020, Chaffey ran the table as the Panthers went undefeated in conference play.
This season, it appears that San Bernardino is the favorite coming into conference action. The Wolverines are 8-3 played some solid competition and picked up wins West Los Angeles, Riverside, East Los Angeles and Saddleback as well. San Bernardino has lost twice to West Los Angeles and Fullerton as the Wolverines will look to take home the conference championship. The Wolverines will open conference play on Saturday at home against Chaffey.
Cerro Coso could be a team that could make some noise within the conference as the Coyotes have a 9-2 record coming into the conference play. The Coyotes have lost to Fullerton and Ventura (respectively one and two in our socal rankings) and have shown explosiveness. Cerro Coso has athleticism and can put points on the board and have won six of their last seven games. Cerro Coso opens up against Barstow at home tonight.
Mt. San Jacinto comes into conference with a 5-5 record, but as usual, the Eagles do not dodge competition. The Eagles have lost to Fullerton, East Los Angeles, and Los Angeles Southwest within our rankings. Mt. San Jacinto is a tough win, and they could make some noise for sure and make a post season run as they are usually prepared for conference with a tough non conference schedule every year. Mt. San Jacinto opens up on the road against a banged up Copper Mountain team tonight.
Palo Verde opened up the season extremely hot, winning four of their first five, followed that up losing four of the next five, but come into conference on a two game winning streak. The Pirates knocked off Sequoias and Fresno on back to back nights early in the season but have struggled to find consistency. Palo Verde will open up conference play on the road against Chaffey later tonight.
The defending champions, have struggled this season and the Panthers are a bit down this season. Chaffey is 4-7 but you can never count out a team coached by Jeff Kline. Chaffey could play the upset role in beating a team that should finish above them, but at the end of the day, this could be a season where the Panthers may miss the post season.
Barstow, Copper Mountain, Desert and Victor Valley will look to stay competitive as all teams have struggled in the non conference part of their schedule.
Signaling a Light:
FAVORITE: San Bernardino (8-3)
TEAM IN THE MIX: Cerro Coso (9-2)
OUR DARK HORSE: Mt. San Jacinto (5-5)
POSSIBLE PLAYOFF TEAMS: San Bernardino (8-3), Cerro Coso (9-2), Mt. San Jacinto (5-5)
STLB PROJECTED PLAYER OF THE YEAR: “5-9” (FR) Dominique Daniels (San Bernardino)
STLB PLAYER WATCH: “6-1” (FR) Armon Muldrew (San Bernardino), “6-5” (SO) Anton Mozga (Mt. San Jacinto), “5-8” (SO) Brandon Thompson (San Bernardino), “7-0” Chester Makoi (San Bernardino), “6-7” (SO) Domineque Johnson (Palo Verde), “6-4” Christian Taylor (Barstow), “6-6” (SO) Josh Miller (Cerro Coso), “6-6” (FR) Isaiah Skinner (Mt. San Jacinto), “6-4” (FR) Jalen Williams (Cerro Coso), “5-11” (FR) Daron Hall (Cerro Coso), “6-6” (SO) Mikah Blackwell (Copper Mountain), “6-4” (SO) Chijindu Egeonu (Chaffey), “6-2 (SO) Tyler Hudson (Copper Mountain), “6-2” (SO) Danilo Da Silva (Mt. San Jacinto), “5-10” (SO) DJ Adams (Desert), “6-2” (SO) Marquis McKinzey (Desert), “6-6” (SO) Josh Hardiman (Mt. San Jacinto), “6-0” (SO) Larry Hemingway Jr. (Palo Verde), “6-5” (SO) Daijohn Stewart (Palo Verde), “6-2” (FR) Blake Goodrow (Victor Valley), “6-2” Joshua Ryan (Victor Valley), “6-2” (FR) Jozelle Carter (Chaffey), “6-1″(FR) Eulysses Foston (Chaffey)
