Chargers Surge Past Long Beach to Advance to Third Round of Playoffs
Huge Third-Quarter Surge Lifts Cypress Past Long Beach in SoCal Regional Playoffs
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
16 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 42 |
|
|
12 | 7 | 19 | 13 | 51 |
Team Stats
Long Beach
| Game Statistics | Long Beach | Cypress |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (16-63) | (21-62) |
| Field Goal % | 25.4% | 33.9% |
| Rebounds | 40 | 47 |
| Assists | 7 | 9 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 13 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 12 | 13 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 14 | 16 |
| Pts in the Paint | 18 | 20 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 2 | 0 |
| Bench Pts | 8 | 2 |
CYPRESS, CA - Locked in a 3C2A SoCal Regional Round 2 battle on their home floor, the No. 6 Cypress College Chargers flipped the script with a dominant third quarter and powered past the No. 11 Long Beach Vikings 51-42 on Saturday night, advancing to the final regional round.
Trailing 28-19 at halftime, Cypress came out of the locker room with renewed energy and delivered the decisive blow in the third quarter, outscoring Long Beach 19-5 to seize a 38-33 lead. That game-changing run turned a nine-point deficit into a five-point advantage and set the tone for a gritty fourth quarter in which the Chargers controlled the boards, tightened the defense, and closed out the win in front of an appreciative home crowd of about 150 fans.
Sophomore forward Christaesha Jackson was the anchor of the comeback, turning in a powerhouse performance in the paint with 16 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. Her work on the boards helped Cypress finish with a 47-40 rebounding edge and fueled 16 second-chance points. Each extra possession proved critical in a defensive-minded playoff game where both teams had to grind for every basket.
Guard Marina Interiano provided steady play on both ends, nearly posting a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds while also handing out four assists in 40 high-energy minutes. Mariah Henderson added 10 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes, giving the Chargers a balanced scoring trio that carried the offense after a slow first half.
Defensively, the Chargers were relentless after the break. Cypress held Long Beach to just five points in the third quarter and 25.4% shooting (16-for-63) overall, forcing the Vikings into difficult looks and limiting clean opportunities in the lane. The Chargers turned 15 Long Beach turnovers into 13 points and used nine steals to disrupt the Vikings' rhythm. Inside, Cypress controlled the paint with 20 points down low and four blocked shots, protecting the rim during key stretches of the second half.
With the victory, the Chargers advance from SoCal Regional Round 2 and continue their postseason journey.
UP NEXT: Cypress will hit the road for the 3C2A SoCal Regional Round 3 to face the No. 3 Moorpark Raiders on Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m.
Stay connected with the Chargers through social media. Follow Cypress College Athletics on X (Formerly Twitter) @CypressChargers. Check in with the Chargers on Facebook/CypressChargers and on Instagram @CypressChargers.
