East L.A. stuns Palomar 88-86 to win Comet Classic

SAN MARCOS (11-18-2018) – East Los Angeles College upset Palomar 88-86 in the championship game of the Comet Classic Tournament Presented by the Fegan Family on Sunday in The Dome as the Comets trailed most of the game before making a late run that fell just short.

The Huskies advanced to 8-1 for the season, while the Comets saw their unbeaten streak come to an end and fell to 6-1.

Palomar fell behind by 27-26 after one quarter, then fell behind and trailed by double digits most of the way until the Comets came roaring from behind as the clock wound down in the fourth quarter. That turned out to be too little much too late for Palomar.

Clarissa Taite (23 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block), their sophomore floor leader from Mira Mesa High School, led the Comets before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Lilly Crabtree (Westview High, 12 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals) and Keiara Barton (Vista Murrieta High, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) also scored in double figures.

Imari Cooley (Vista Murrieta High, 9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists) also fouled out for Palomar in the final quarter. Morgan Heise (San Marcos High, 9 points, 3 steals, 1 assist) sparked the Comets in the fourth quarter.

Jennifer Pool led the Huskies with 21 points and was named tournament Most Valuable Player. She was joined on the all-tournament team by East L.A. teammates Dominique Godbolt and Jaelynn Curley, Palomar's Cooley and Crabtree, Riverside City College's Dayna DeWitt and West Los Angeles' Daija Black.

Riverside defeated Grossmont 77-49 in the third-place game. West Los Angeles downed Santa Monica 64-37 for the consolation title.

Palomar had been a strong favorite to win its own tournament after defeating defending state champion Mt. San Jacinto 89-70 in the championship game of the Eagles' season-opening tournament.