The City College men’s basketball season has arrived.

Saturday, Nov. 2, the Vaqueros hosted a scrimmage against Whittier College in preparation of their season opener on Nov. 8.

Whittier College is a four-year school located in Los Angeles, and they are in Division 3 athletics. The scrimmage included three 20-minute periods and no official score was kept.

City College played its best basketball in the first 20-minute period but then struggled to handle the pressure of the Whittier defenders in the other two periods.

“That comes from the experience of them being a four-year school,” said head coach Morris Hodges. “They could have guys that are fifth year seniors, so I’m not too concerned with that.”

The Vaqueros haven’t had a winning record since the 2006-07 season and are looking to change that trend. Last season, the team finished 4-18 overall and 0-10 in conference.

“My goal is to turn the program around,” said Alonzo McCain, a freshman from San Bernardino “I need to be the very best point guard I can be for my team.”

With 10 freshmen on the roster, this year’s team is full of new faces and the team hopes this will lead to new results.

“I think personnel wise we’re better than we were last year,” said Hodges. “Our chemistry is good and we have some intangibles as a group that we didn’t have last year.”

Hodges mentioned Alonzo McCain and Tanner Stuhr as two players he really sees leading the team this season.

“McCain has shown vocal leadership at practice, and Stuhr is a very hard worker and leads by example,” he said.

The Vaqueros will look to be in position to compete for a conference title in January and the road to that title begins Nov. 8, against West Hills College Coalinga in a tournament hosted by Cuesta College.

City College’s first home game will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, against L.A. Valley College in the Sports Pavilion.