Montgomery College’s basketball program just concluded a dominant— in some regards historic—regular season. Both teams are now preparing for promising postseason runs, the women’s team (18-10) following their first playoff victory (52-45) against the 
Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) Catonsville last night at 7:00 PM, and the men’s team (23-7) taking the court tonight at 7:00, except at Howard County CC against CCBC Dundalk.  With that in mind, let’s reflect on the Raptors’ final month of the 2024-25 regular season.

Men’s Team:

February was the men’s most grueling month in terms of physical endurance and the level of competition. They faced some of their toughest opponents of the season, including Raritan Valley Community College and Cecil College. Despite the increased intensity leading up to the playoffs, the Raptors finished the month with a strong 6-3 record, making significant improvements on both ends of the floor.

The Raptors showed substantial offensive growth, averaging 93.1 points per game while holding opponents to just 83.6, giving them an average point differential of +9.5. Perhaps even more impressive were their assist numbers, averaging just under 19 assists per game—noticeably higher than in previous months.

However, their most crucial improvement heading into the playoffs was their ability to maintain defensive discipline while staying aggressive. They averaged 10.2 steals per game, their highest mark of the regular season, and increased their blocks per game from 4.4 in January to 6.8 in February. Additionally, they achieved these defensive numbers while reducing team fouls from 21 per game in January to 16.7 in February. This adjustment is crucial for any team with championship aspirations. We asked Player of the Month, Franklin Ayissi-Etoh, to comment on the team’s recent defensive success:

“We practice our defensive mechanics a lot. We’ve been trying to not let teams drive down the middle, and we’ve prioritized not giving them easy points at the line as well.”

Franklin Ayissi-Etoh (Fr.)
9 GP, 1 GS | 18.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.0 SPG | 50.0 FG%, 40.7 3PT%, 87.8 FT%              

Per 36 Minutes: 31.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.6 APG, 3.5 SPG 

Top Performance: 38 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 6 STL (11/14 FG, 7/9 3PT, 9/11 FT) 
vs. Raritan Valley (Feb. 13)

“All glory to God first, but I just did what my team needed, and at times that was getting buckets. I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember, so it’s my job to do that when my number gets called.”

A product of renowned Archbishop Carroll High School, Ayissi-Etoh played in the WCAC (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference)—widely considered the toughest conference in the DMV—and competed in the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) State Championship. Reflecting on how that experience shaped him as a player, he said:

“To be the best, you have to play the best—and you have to dominate while doing so. Playing in [the WCAC] made me mentally stronger because no matter how tired I felt, I had to play my hardest, knowing the team across from me always had high-caliber players.”

That mentality was on full display in his career-high 38-point outing against Raritan Valley. Ayissi-Etoh recalled the game vividly:

“It was just one of those nights where I was in a flow state. When we got to their arena, they had already warmed up and were giving us a look like they knew they were going to take us out… I started the game with a steal and ended the possession with an and-one three. I knew then it was going to be one of those nights.”

Women’s Team:

The women’s team, who faced big-name Junior College (JUCO) programs like CCBC Essex, finished February with a 3-3 record. However, this record does not fully reflect the significant strides they made as a unit. Their 76.7 points per game was their highest scoring average of the season, and much like the men’s team, their ball movement played a key role. They recorded a season-high 19.3 assists per game, a testament to their chemistry on the court.

Their three-point shooting also reached new heights, as they shot 35.2% from beyond the arc on 24.2 attempts per game—a noticeable increase from earlier in the season. Despite the higher volume, their efficiency remained consistent, which speaks to their shot selection and offensive rhythm. A major catalyst for this perimeter success was Advocate Player of the Month, Litzy Lujan-Gonzales.

Litzy Lujan-Gonzales (So.)
8 GP, 8 GS | 23.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 7.2 APG, 4.8 SPG | 45.5 FG%, 47.1 3PT%, 82.2 FT%             

Top Performance: 30 PTS, 12 AST, 10 STL vs. College of Southern Maryland (Feb. 1)

Gonzales, who had 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals last night, was also January’s Player of the Month, and she only improved in February. Her field goal percentage jumped by 8%, her free throw percentage increased by 10%, and her three-point percentage skyrocketed by 14.8%. She knocked down an average of 4 threes per game on 8.5 attempts, demonstrating both efficiency and confidence in her shot.

In addition to her offensive prowess, Gonzales also made significant strides in playmaking and defense. She recorded two double-digit assist games and three games with five or more steals. On offense, she has established herself as a three-level scoring threat with an elite ability to distribute the ball. Defensively, despite being undersized, she has proven she can disrupt opposing teams’ best ball handlers. Raptors fans are eager to see how she and the rest of the team perform in the postseason.

Both Raptors squads have demonstrated impressive growth as they enter playoff action. If February was any indication, both teams have the talent, discipline, and now momentum to make deep runs. Stay tuned as the Raptors hope to continue what have been monumental seasons for both teams.