Owls Stay Undefeated in Conference, Defeat Antelope Valley Again

No. 3 in the state ranked Citrus College basketball defeated Antelope Valley College 83-77 for the second time this season, earning their 17th consecutive win, ninth straight conference victory, and improving their overall record to 22-1.

Citrus shot an efficient 53.1 percent from the field in the first half, scoring 46 points on 17-of-32 shooting. Rockwell Reynolds led all scorers with 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting, adding four rebounds and a block. Leo Ricketts contributed six points, three rebounds and a block, while Grayson Boustead added six points off the bench. Amiri Meadows and Alek Sanchez each scored five, with Sanchez hitting a 3-pointer and going a perfect 2 for 2 at the free-throw line. The Owls went 3 of 10 from beyond the arc and 9 of 11 at the line, finishing the half with 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks while committing just three turnovers.

In the second half, Citrus added 37 points while shooting 41.9 percent (13 of 31). Dev Hamilton and Reynolds paced the offense with 12 points apiece. Hamilton went 5 of 6 from the field, knocking down the Owls' lone 3-pointer of the half, while Reynolds added five rebounds. Ricketts chipped in three points and an assist, and Ian Salmon scored two off the bench. Citrus struggled from the free-throw line, making 10 of 18, and finished 1 of 10 from long range. Defensively, the Owls recorded six steals and committed just four turnovers, while adding 13 rebounds and six assists over the final 20 minutes.

Citrus closed out the game with a balanced performance, finishing 30 of 63 from the field (47.6 percent) and outscoring Antelope Valley 27–2 from the bench. The Owls dominated inside with 46 points in the paint and converted 18 points off 18 turnovers, while limiting their own mistakes to seven turnovers. Citrus built a game-high 17-point lead midway through the second half, holding on through four ties and five lead changes.

Reynolds led all scorers with 26 points on 12-of-16 shooting, adding nine rebounds and a block. Hamilton added 14 points with two assists and two steals, and Ricketts finished with nine points and four rebounds. Alek Sanchez scored 11 points off the bench, going 8 of 10 from the free-throw line and adding three assists. Meadows had seven points with two assists and a steal, Dylan Victorio scored four points with two rebounds, while Grayson Boustead added six points and two rebounds. Ian Salmon and Brady Orr also contributed with two and three points, respectively.

The Owls will return home Saturday, February 14, to host College of the Canyons for their second meeting of the season. Citrus defeated the Cougars 99-82 on the road in January, tipoff at the Owls' Nest is set for 1 p.m.