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The Comets celebrate their fourth Pacific Coast Conference men's basketball championship in the last seven seasons after defeating second-place Cuyamaca 85-80. The Feb. 17 victory clinched the title for Palomar.

Alcala first-team all-state selection

Point guard Manny Alcala, who helped lead Palomar to the Pacific Coast Conference men's basketball championship, has been selected to the All-State first team by the California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association.

Alcala (right), a sophomore from Mt. Carmel High School, led the Pacific Coast Conference in assists and was voted PCC co-Player of the Year honors by conference coaches.

He also was voted 2005-2006 Palomar MVP honors by his teammates and was team co-captain along with John Hotaling.

Other award recipients at the Comets' awards banquet were Uros Vukovich (Most Improved), John Hotaling & Sam Harrison (Most Inspirational), Chris Williams (Best Defensive Player), and E.J. Ross, G.P. Wells & Chris Jackson (Coach's Award).

E.J. Ross (right) scored 27 points and grabbed 5 rebounds to lead Palomar, which cut the Mounties' 50-40 halftime lead to 1 point in the second half before succumbing. Chris Jackson (19 points), Manny Alcala (16 points, 12 assists) and G.P. Wells (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Comets.

Uros Vukovich had 7 rebounds despite getting in early foul trouble and eventually fouling out along with John Hotaling and Jackson. Hotaling hauled down 6 defensive rebounds. Tyler Davidson, who came on strong late in the season, contributed 5 rebounds off the bench.

Freshmen scored 69 of Palomar's 90 points.

The loss was the first for Palomar in 1 1/2 months. The Comets' most recent defeat had come 104-103 in double overtime to Imperial Valley on Jan. 7.

Coach John O'Neill's Comets finished the season 17-12.

Palomar College sophomore point guard Manny Alcala (right) has  been selected by Pacific Coast Conference coaches as conference Co-Player of the Year along with Cuyamaca's Marlon Pierce

Palomar's John O'Neill (left), who guided the Comets to the PCC championship, was unanimously voted Coach of the Year honors.

Palomar teammate E.J. Ross joins Alcala on the first team. G.P.  Wells was selected to the second team. The Comets' John ohn Hotaling received honorable mention.

Palomar (17-11) opens play in the state community college tournament's Southern California regionals Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Mt. SAC (18-12). If the Conets win, they'll play on the road against No. 1 seed Fullerton (32-0) at the same time Saturday.

Palomar College clinched its fourth Pacific Coast Conference men's basketball championship in seven seasons Wednesday night, turning back second-place Cuyamaca 85-80 at the  Palomar Dome.

E.J. Ross (right) came up huge for Palomarwhich has only two sophomores and opened the season 2-9. Ross scored 29 points and also had five rebounds and five steals.

G.P. Wells (18 points), Chris Jackson (13 points) and John Hotaling (13 points) also scored in double figures for the Comets. Uros Vukovich contributed 11 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Manny Alcala dished off 10 assists.

Hotaling (left), the squad's co-captain with Alcala, was the star of the game defensively. He neutralized the conference's leading scorer, James Francisco, whom he held to a quiet 17 points. Francisco did much of his damage when Hotaling was out of the game.

The Comets drew away late in the second half after the Coyotes (18-11, 10-3) led much of the way. Ross scored 21 points in the second half.

On Saturday, Palomar ended the regular season with a 115-97 victory on the road over San Diego Mesa and now awaits the first round of the state community college playoffs.

Ross  (23 points, six rebounds), Vukovich (22 points, seven rebounds, two blocks), Wells (19 points, seven rebounds, six assists) and Alcala (seven assists) led the Comets (17-11, 13-1 in conference), who ran their win streak to 12 games.

Coach John O'Neill started back-ups Ian Bryant (nine points), Jackson (nine points), Sam Harrison, Chase Greep (nine points) and Tyler Davidson. Bryant and Davidson contributed dunks.

Palomar won the conference by three games over Cuyamaca, which was upset by San Diego City College on Saturday.