They could be found in almost every spot on the Cougars’ gymnasium floor Saturday night, scattered like dandelion seeds after a gust of wind, popping up in places you hate to see them most – missed opportunities.

A botched breakaway dunk in the middle of a furious comeback. Not capitalizing on a star player for the other team fouling out. A potential game-winning layup blown in the closing seconds of regulation.

The Glendale men’s basketball team has known a thing or two about those this season, and just in case anyone in the sparse crowd at College of the Canyons didn’t believe them, the Vaqueros were there to prove their point one final time.

In losing to the Cougars 107-99 in overtime, Glendale (12-17, 5-7 in Western State Conference play) ended their playoff hopes amid frustration and disbelief, walking off the court knowing they had several chances to win, and in the process keep their playoff hopes alive.

It also ended the GCC careers of sophomores Markus Monroe and Josh Guillory.

Monroe helped keep the Vaqs in the game early, with Guillory leading a late charge. But at a school only a few miles from Magic Mountain, neither player could save their team from this roller coaster of a game.

Trailing 67-53, with less than 12 minutes left in the game, Glendale began a rally that started with defense and turned into points off turnovers on numerous fast breaks. “We were more selective. We made some stops,” said head coach Brain Beauchemin.

Down 79-75 with 4:43 left, Guillory was alone for an easy basket, but instead missed his try at a windmill dunk, sending the fans delirious for a few seconds and Guillory sheepishly apologizing to his teammates. “I got a little short of breath,” said Guillory, who finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and five steals. “I tried to hang a little too long.”

That didn’t stop Glendale from eventually taking the lead 87-83 with 1:10 to play, thanks in part to better rebounding. The Vaqs had already fouled out Cougars forward Brannon Bradley less than minute before that. Bradley had been torching the Vaqs inside all game, and left with 18 points.

But COC (11-19, 4-8 in WSC), was able to get the breaks in the final minute, including forward Jonathan Phillips getting fouled by Peter Newell with nine seconds remaining.
Phillips made two free-throws to tie the game at 88-88. Glendale inbounded the ball and got it to Guillory at the three-point line, who lobbed a pass to Deconte Wyatt. Wyatt had two seconds to gather himself, but, not knowing the clock, decided to rush the shot while in the air. His layup rolled off the rim, and the game went to overtime.
In the extra session, the Cougars’ Justin Smith came alive, scoring eight points, six of them in the paint.

The Cougars were able to hit their free-throws, while Glendale missed off-balanced three pointers, and overtime was never really in doubt.

“Mental errors, yeah,” said Guillory looking back. “They hit more free-throws than us. That’s a big win for them. We’re a better team than them.”

The game started well enough for Glendale, who took an early 8-5 lead. The players were noticeably loose and relaxed at tip-off.
When the Cougars began to establish themselves inside, Monroe stepped up for Glendale, scoring 13 first half points, as the Vaqs trailed 44-42 at the half. In the second half, Monroe came down awkwardly on his left leg at the eight minute mark, holding his calf while lying on the floor for several minutes. He later returned, finishing with 28 points, 14 of them from the foul line, but still showed a noticeable limp after the game.

Glendale’s second half deficit forced them to take many long range shots. They ended up shooting a paltry 24 percent for the game, including going 8-26 from the three-point line. Wyatt was one of the main reasons they were able to come back, finishing with 23 points, including making three three-pointers.

It didn’t help that Glendale thought it was also battling the referees. With 5:03 left in the second half, Newell was fouled on a dunk attempt. The ball popped up in the air before going in, but the officials called offensive goaltending, saying one of the Vaqueros touched the ball, although they could not identify the player. The Glendale bench erupted in disbelief, and Newell hit only one of two free-throws, giving Glendale one point out of a possible three if the call had been reversed.

“[The referee] said we touched it. It was not our guy. They touched it,” said Beauchemin, still incredulous after the game.
Still, Vaquero spirits weren’t all down afterwards. Maybe they were glad a tough season was over. Maybe they were eager to get home before the rain came. Maybe they were thankful after looking back on a fruitful college experience.

“Disappointed? No,” said Guillory. “I told the guys before they left that I really appreciated them. This has been one of the greatest experiences playing basketball for me, ever.”Trailing 67-53, with less than 12 minutes left in the game, Glendale began a rally that started with defense and turned into points off turnovers on numerous fast breaks. “We were more selective. We made some stops,” said head coach Brain Beauchemin.

Down 79-75 with 4:43 left, Guillory was alone for an easy basket, but instead missed his try at a windmill dunk, sending the fans delirious for a few seconds and Guillory sheepishly apologizing to his teammates. “I got a little short of breath,” said Guillory, who finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and five steals. “I tried to hang a little too long.”

That didn’t stop Glendale from eventually taking the lead 87-83 with 1:10 to play, thanks in part to better rebounding. The Vaqs had already fouled out Cougars forward Brannon Bradley less than minute before that. Bradley had been torching the Vaqs inside all game, and left with 18 points.
But COC (11-19, 4-8 in WSC), was able to get the breaks in the final minute, including forward Jonathan Phillips getting fouled by Peter Newell with nine seconds remaining.
Phillips made two free-throws to tie the game at 88-88. Glendale inbounded the ball and got it to Guillory at the three-point line, who lobbed a pass to Deconte Wyatt. Wyatt had two seconds to gather himself, but, not knowing the clock, decided to rush the shot while in the air. His layup rolled off the rim, and the game went to overtime.
In the extra session, the Cougars’ Justin Smith came alive, scoring eight points, six of them in the paint.

The Cougars were able to hit their free-throws, while Glendale missed off-balanced three pointers, and overtime was never really in doubt.

“Mental errors, yeah,” said Guillory looking back. “They hit more free-throws than us. That’s a big win for them. We’re a better team than them.”

The game started well enough for Glendale, who took an early 8-5 lead. The players were noticeably loose and relaxed at tip-off.
When the Cougars began to establish themselves inside, Monroe stepped up for Glendale, scoring 13 first half points, as the Vaqs trailed 44-42 at the half. In the second half, Monroe came down awkwardly on his left leg at the eight minute mark, holding his calf while lying on the floor for several minutes. He later returned, finishing with 28 points, 14 of them from the foul line, but still showed a noticeable limp after the game.

Glendale’s second half deficit forced them to take many long range shots. They ended up shooting a paltry 24 percent for the game, including going 8-26 from the three-point line. Wyatt was one of the main reasons they were able to come back, finishing with 23 points, including making three three-pointers.

It didn’t help that Glendale thought it was also battling the referees. With 5:03 left in the second half, Newell was fouled on a dunk attempt. The ball popped up in the air before going in, but the officials called offensive goaltending, saying one of the Vaqueros touched the ball, although they could not identify the player. The Glendale bench erupted in disbelief, and Newell hit only one of two free-throws, giving Glendale one point out of a possible three if the call had been reversed.

“[The referee] said we touched it. It was not our guy. They touched it,” said Beauchemin, still incredulous after the game.
Still, Vaquero spirits weren’t all down afterwards. Maybe they were glad a tough season was over. Maybe they were eager to get home before the rain came. Maybe they were thankful after looking back on a fruitful college experience.

“Disappointed? No,” said Guillory. “I told the guys before they left that I really appreciated them. This has been one of the greatest experiences playing basketball for me, ever.”