Hancock Hoops Hosts SBCC in Final Home Game of Season Wednesday

The Allan Hancock College men's and women's basketball teams play their final home games of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 19, in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium. The women battle Santa Barbara City College at 5 p.m., while the men follow at 7 p.m.

The Hancock women enter 2-8 in Western State Conference play and 12-13 overall under first-year head coach Cary Nerelli. Sophomore guards Davina J. Valerio and Evelyn Robles, as well as forwards Justine Roland, Emma Weinreich and Veronica Sua will be honored prior to the game. The five have been instrumental to helping the Bulldogs reach double figures in victories for the first time in seven years. A victory over the Vaqueros would give the program 13 wins for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

The SBCC women enter 1-9 in conference play and 9-15 overall. Hancock has won both meetings this season, 75-47 in December, and 60-57 last month. Roland, a Righetti High School graduate, has been Hancock's top scorer in each game averaging 19 points in the two contests. Roland ranks second on the team this season with 12.3 points and first with 9.4 rebounds per game. Weinreich is averaging 10.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest.

The Hancock men enter their final home game of the season with a 5-5 WSC mark and a 14-13 overall record. The Bulldogs are coming off a thrilling 70-68 win at L.A. Pierce where Josh Varney hit a 14-foot jumper at the buzzer. SBCC is winless in ten conference games this season, including a 49-48 loss to Hancock last month. Varney led the Bulldogs in the first meeting with 18 points, including a tip-in for the game-winning bucket in Santa Barbara.

The Bulldogs will bid farewell to four sophomores, including Varney, DJ Billingsley, Lompoc native Rijo Jackson, as well as guard Yukijiro Yashiro. Varney is averaging 8.5 pounds and 5.6 rebounds per game.

The third annual Coaches vs. Cancer event will take place during halftime of the men's game. During halftime of the men's basketball game, a team of Hancock students will play a basketball scrimmage against President Kevin Walthers, head football coach Kris Dutra and other Hancock faculty and staff.  Ticket and concession stand sales from the game will go to the Coaches vs. Cancer program, which is run by the American Cancer Society.

Hancock ends the season on Saturday, Feb. 22 at College of the Canyons.