The Citrus Owls men’s basketball team is now 23-1 with an 18-game win streak. They defeated the College of Canyons (15-9) at home on Feb. 7, 118-91.
The Owls set the tone defensively by applying a full-court press for most of the game. Citrus showed consistent hustle, tipping passes, jumping passing lanes for steals and diving on the floor for loose balls. That energy helped disrupt Canyons’ rhythm and created transition scoring opportunities.
Offensively, the Owls were equally sharp. Citrus shot 53.9% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range, making 15 of 35 shots from beyond the arc. The spacing was consistent, allowing for driving lanes and kick-outs, and the ball rarely stuck on one side of the floor. Citrus finished with 27 assists, a reflection of its unselfish passing and strong shot selection.
“I think it was just 40 minutes of getting the pace where we want it, 40 minutes of pressure defense, and 40 minutes of sharing the ball and eventually we will go on runs,” Citrus head coach Brett Lauer said.
Freshman guard J.J. Sanchez said the tone was set early on in the game.
“I think the first couple of plays on defense,” Sanchez said. “It dictates a lot of the game. If we are running, boxing out and rebounding, it helps us, and it brings energy to the bench. It brings everybody up.”
He added 15 points and five assists in 19 minutes, frequently attacking the basket.
Leo Ricketts and Rockwell Reynolds led Citrus with 23 points each. Ricketts played 33 minutes and hit five 3-pointers, adding five rebounds and three assists while stretching the defense.
Reynolds delivered a strong performance while matched up against 7-foot freshman center Craig Irons in a battle of the big men.
“He was tough, he’s a big guy, so you just got to be as physical as you can be,” Reynolds said. “You can’t go in soft. You got to go hard.”
He scored 23 points on 9 of 13 shooting and hit three 3-pointers. He also grabbed nine rebounds, including four offensive boards, while adding two blocks.
Amiri Meadows recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists on 6-of-7 shooting. He also added seven rebounds and three steals, helping control the tempo.
“It’s hard to not point out Amiri Meadows tonight,” Lauer said. “I thought his energy was big time. I thought he boxed out, that he was disciplined, and that he made plays for his teammates.”
Citrus will look to build on that performance when it travels to Santa Monica on Feb. 11.
