Rio Hondo pushes LA Trade-Tech to double overtime
By Sergio Ramos
LA Trade-Tech outlasted Rio Hondo College in a high-scoring, physical battle, pulling away late for a 117–109 victory behind balanced scoring, relentless rebounding, and a huge night at the free-throw line.
Trade-Tech put constant pressure on the defense by attacking the paint and earning trips to the stripe, finishing 44-of-55 from the free-throw line. That advantage proved decisive in a game that featured multiple momentum swings and strong individual performances on both sides.
Kemaree Germany led the way for Trade-Tech with 22 points, adding 7 rebounds and 7 assists while consistently drawing contact. Johnathan Gomez matched him with 22 points, knocking down 4 three-pointers and playing heavy minutes. Inside, Will Smith III delivered a dominant all-around performance with 18 points and 14 rebounds, anchoring the glass as Trade-Tech finished with 52 total rebounds.
The bench played a key role as well. Jordan Webster poured in 18 points, while Rod Scutter added 13 points and 4 rebounds, giving Trade-Tech valuable scoring depth throughout the night.
Rio Hondo refused to go away, led by an outstanding performance from Ryan Osborne, who scored a game-high 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting. Bobby Reyes was just as impactful, posting 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Matthew Rodriguez chipped in 18 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Rio Hondo shot a solid 43.5% from the field and won several stretches of play, but struggles from three-point range (6-of-28) and at the free-throw line (23-of-33) ultimately hurt their chances. Trade-Tech capitalized late by controlling the tempo, finishing possessions, and converting free throws to seal the win.
In the end, Trade-Tech's ability to get to the line, dominate the boards, and spread the scoring load proved too much, as they closed out a hard-fought 117–109 victory over Rio Hondo College.
