Basketball Seasons Come to an End at Cal Pac Championships

March 2, 2026
By Pioneers Athletics

The 2026 basketball season concluded for the Pioneers at the Cal Pac Championships on Friday, but the lasting story of the year extends far beyond the final scores. Both programs not only competed on the conference stage, they earned significant recognition for performance on the court, in the classroom and in character.

On the men's side, Yatyn Anderson headlined postseason honors as an All-Conference First Team selection. Anderson emerged as one of the conference's most efficient scorers and finished fifth nationally in three-point percentage, cementing himself as one of the top perimeter threats in the NAIA ranks. Hayden Creswell, Isiah Harper and Ramon Bailey each earned All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition after playing key roles in the Pioneers' competitive campaign.

The women's program also celebrated a standout year in conference recognition. Krystal Pineda and Mataya Amen-Sherman were both named All-Conference First Team selections. Raven James, Victoria Fowler and Stephanie Zuniga added All-Conference Honorable Mention honors, underscoring the depth and growth within the roster.

James, a senior kinesiology major from Texas, was also named to the Women's Basketball All-Academic Team for maintaining a 3.5 or above GP, reflecting the program's commitment to excellence beyond athletics.

PUC's values were further reflected in the Champions of Character awards, with John Hemsley and Ronna-Lee Henry recognized for exemplifying leadership, integrity and service, pillars of the college's athletic mission.

While the season ended in the opening round, both teams delivered notable tournament performances. The men nearly pulled off a win against the No. 3 seeded and tournament host Cal Maritime Keelhaulers, knocking down 12 first half three pointers to build a double-digit halftime lead behind Creswell's 22 points and Anderson's 20. The women rallied from a 13 point halftime deficit against No. 4 Stanton University to cut the margin to four in the final minute. This was the women's first playoff appearance since 2013.

In just his second season, head coach Landon Banks has continued building a culture centered on accountability, belief and steady progress, reflected not only in competitive stretches against strong opponents, but in the conference wide recognition earned by Pioneer student athletes.