Kristopher Hooks | Sports Editor | [email protected]
Loss puts damper on Panthers’ Sophomore Night
Gabrielle Smith | Photo Editor | [email protected]
The City College men’s basketball team lost its third consecutive Big 8 Conference game Feb. 12 to the Diablo Valley College Vikings, 77-62.
It was Sophomore Night for the Panthers, and the game opened up with a touching tribute to the team’s four sophomores — Oleg Yemchuk, Derek Rhodes, Adam Ciszewski and Michael Wiggins — who were playing their last home game at City College.
“Our sophomores have been great, and that’s all we could ask of them,” said Panthers’ assistant coach James Carelock. “They play hard every day, and they’re trying to be good role models to our freshmen and show them the way.”
It was a tale of two halves for the Panthers. They came out with energy and played aggressively to start the game. Their shots dropped often, they had good ball movement, and they didn’t turn the ball over much.
Despite the game being close at halftime — Vikings led 35-33 — the Panthers lacked the energy and aggressiveness they had in the first half and were outscored 20-7 in the first eight minutes of the second.
“We started out real strong,” said Carelock, “but we just came out a little flat in the second half, and it was hard to catch back up to where we were going.”
Freshmen forwards Brandon Rowden and Vic Rustin led the Panthers in scoring with 15 and 12, respectively.
Four players scored in double figures on the night for Diablo Valley: Olajuwon Garner (19), Jelani Hardaway (17), Rico Nuno (14) and Jaques Carraway (13).
“It’s been a long season, and it’s real hard right now,” said Carelock. “So we’re just trying to find our way and play better everyday. That’s basically it, we’re trying to play harder and get better everyday — got to keep working.”
The Panthers have only two more games this season — at Delta College on Feb. 17 and at Sierra College on Feb. 20 — to gain some momentum before they hit the off-season to get ready for next year.
For more stats and information on City College men’s basketball, visit http://sccpanthers.losrios.edu/mensbasketball.htm
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Women’s basketball loses final home game of season
Emily Foley | Photo Editor | [email protected]
The City College women’s basketball team lost its final home game of the season Feb. 12 to the Diablo Valley College Vikings, 71-54.
The Vikings had control throughout most of the game, in large part because of the amount of times they went to the free throw line — 28 for 35 on the night. The Panthers’ inability to control the ball and their aggression led to some ill-advised turnovers and fouls.
“I thought we played a tough first half,” said City College head coach Julia Allender. “Then it’s just the same story with us.”
According to Allender, turnovers, not matching up defensively, missing easy shots, missing free throws and fatigue were key in the loss.
The game was close through the first 10 minutes of the first half, but then Diablo Valley got things rolling and took over. The Vikings went into halftime with a 30-22 lead over the Panthers.
The Panthers started the second half on a brief 7-3 run, which brought the deficit to four, but they got into some early foul trouble and struggled to keep up after that. The Vikings were in the bonus at the 11-minute mark and were in the double bonus at the three-minute mark.
“I thought [Rayelle Ross] played well,” said Allender. “She got off some decent shots and got to the rim, but I don’t think we handle [the ball] well — it just kills us.”
Ross, who was honored for playing her last home game as a Panther for Sophomore Night, led the team with 14 points. Freshmen forwards Kristen Gooding and Aleea Reese scored in double figures, as well, and finished the game with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
For the Vikings, guard Sabrea Coleman and forwards Taiyla Jackson and Julia Alexander led the team in scoring with 20, 11 and 10 points, respectively.
“I thought we got a lot better,” said Allender of the team’s progression throughout the season. “It’s obvious we don’t have all the pieces that we need to have, but they played hard, and there’s not a game I can think of — maybe one against DVC at their place — where we just didn’t play hard, and that’s a positive.”
The Panthers will have two more away games against Delta College Feb. 17 and Sierra College Feb. 20 before they close out the season and prepare for the next.
For more stats and information on City College women’s basketball, visit http://sccpanthers.losrios.edu/womensbasketball.htm
