Basketball Playoffs

Men's Team Wins, Then Loses; Women Knocked Out
Team's run for title comes to abrupt end in second round

BY BEN SCHNEIDER
Staff Writer

The Rams' season came to an end with a heart-wrenching 88-65 loss to the College of Sequoias Friday night, ending what had been a very successful season for the Rams players as well as first year coach Justin Labagh.

No. 22 Harry Brown soars for a layup over visitor Larry Stephens. Check out the first round action on page 13. JEREMY TANNER / GUARDSMAN

Johnnie Bryant, who has been a major bright spot for the Rams this year, attempted to put the Rams on his back and single-handedly carry his teammates to the next round. Bryant finished with over half of the Rams' scoring load including six three-pointers in the second half. He had a season high 33 points but couldn't get enough support as the Rams were outplayed from the opening tip.

"We needed to be mentally stronger," said Bryant after the game. "I wanted to bring my all around game tonight, create off the dribble, and reward my teammates. It just never happened."

Bryant has no reason to hang his head low. He was one of the primary reasons why the Rams were able to have the success they had this year. "He's a big time player," said Coach Labagh after the game. "He will be a major player for us next year".

The Rams were able to cut Sequoias lead to 58-50 on Bryant's fourth straight three-point shot in the second half but Sequoias was able to answer with two straight three-pointers and get the lead back up to 14 points.

"We lost our position on defense and that turned out to be the turning point of the game," said Rams assistant coach Adam D' Acquisto.

Bryant takes his shot in air. PHOTOS BY JEREMY TANNER / GUARDSMAN

Third ranked Sequoias (25-2) had a huge home court advantage. Playing in the city of Visalia with over 1,000 local spectators it was by far the biggest crowd the Rams had seen all year.

The Rams will miss sophomore Jamal Holden who finished his career at City College with five points against Sequoias. After the game Jamal had nothing but positive things to say about the season and the future of the team. "This was the most fun I have ever had playing basketball," said Holden. "They (Rams) now know what it's like to go on the road and face a tough team."

The Rams will have nine returning players next year and Coach Labagh said that the preparation for next year has already started. The whole basketball staff including Troy Johnson, who Labagh said at the beginning of the year was " one of the best recruiters in all of California," will have lots to offer incoming players next year.

The Rams finish the season 22-6, an improvement over last year's team that went 19-14.

After the game Holden was asked what we can expect from the rams next year. His reply: "Big things."

Playoff Analysis:
Rams had higher hopes in better times

BY ZURI BERRY
Editor

The men's and women's basketball teams moved into this year's playoffs with a bit of a grudge on their shoulders.

Last season ended in a heavyweight shootout with the men's team falling to San Jose City College in the second round, 72-68. The women were less successful, losing in the first round to Lassen College 80-67.

In the 2002-03 season the men were going into the year riding the wave of an incredible 2001-02 season in which they made it to the state final four appearance and carried a 33-2 record. But the season began with the team faltering to a 12-9 preseason record. Although the men bounced back from their early preseason woes, they finished the season with only a 19-14 record, a significant drop-off from previous seasons.

Ashley Butler forces a shot against the Pioneer defense. PHOTOS BY JEREMY TANNER / GUARDSMAN

The women finished the 2002-03 season with 17-12 record and a disappointing end for their secondary season.

But coming back this season both Rams' squads have been geared up for the challenge at climbing back uphill in the tough Coast Conference. The men and women both soared to an identical 22-5 record through their seasons and were an identical 8-2 in the North Division of the Coast Conference. The men seeded sixth in the Northern California playoffs while the women placed eighth.

But the women lost in the first round for the second year in row. This time to visiting Sierra college who was ranked ninth in the state. The women have taken the ultimate detour in their championship run.

The men will not get a chance to face San Jose because they were defeated in the second round by the third ranked College of Sequoias.

The season's abrupt end resembled the Rams' 2001-02 team that also carried the high expectations of an elite program but came up short.

There are promising futures for both squads as the men's team will have guards Johnnie Bryant and Harry Brown coming back for their sophomore years and Marie Tomasulo and Nia Reate-Galarza will return for their second years for the women. All of who were starters for their respective teams.

The Strong Have Fallen
First round loss resembles last season's breakdown

BY DIEGO VALDEZ-SANCHEZ
Staff Writer

City's first round playoff woes continue after losing to Sierra College by 19-point margin at home, 67-48.

The women show frustration as they walk off the court. JEREMY TANNER / GUARDSMAN

This is the second straight year that saw the Rams eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

City College finished the season with a 22-5 record, an improvement from last season's 17-12 record.

Minutes before the game started, the Rams gathered at center court in a circle, as they have done all season long.

They chanted, "I'm fired up, are you fired up?" and ended it with a scream of "Frisco!" The crowd gave a roar of approval and the game was under way.

The first half of the game saw a lot of sloppy play and poor shooting by both teams.

The Rams matched Sierra point for point up until the last two minutes of the first half when Sierra went on a 7-0 run to end the half.

Sierra never looked back, leading at the half, 30-23.

Kobea Tudsbury of Sierra plays fierce in an unlikely win. PHOTOS BY JEREMY TANNER / GUARDSMAN

Sierra opened the second half on a 5-0 run pushing their lead to 12 points. From that assault, City College never seemed to recover.

As to what contributed to the loss, Coach Jamie Wong said, "We couldn't contain two of their players."

Sierra's Rebekah Calvert dictated the entire game, almost scoring at will.

City had many opportunities to get back in the game, but they shot themselves in the foot with 18 turnovers.

When asked about the loss, Coach Wong said, "It was pretty tough because we had pretty high expectations going in."

In Monique McNealy's last game as a Ram, she led City with 18-points and 11 rebounds, while Marie Tomasulo contributed with 15-points, two assists and five steals.

First Round:
Rams whip Sacramento in tourney action

BY BEN SCHNEIDER
Staff Writer

The Rams advanced to the second round of the Northern California Comm-unity College Tournament for the third consecutive season by easily defeating the Sacramento City College Pioneers 87- 67.

Alec Von Tellrop (33) jumps over a Pioneer defender. PHOTOS BY JEREMY TANNER / GUARDSMAN

The Rams were lead by Harry Brown who had 22 points, five rebounds and two steals. Starters Jamal Holden and Johnnie Bryant each added 17 points as they continued to shine in the Rams' starting backcourt. Bryant also had a season-high six rebounds and Holden added five assist, two blocks and two steals.

Eleventh ranked Sac-ramento came ready to play. They built a quick 14-3 advantage over the Rams causing Coach Justin Labagh to call a quick timeout. "I told them to be patient, our offense will come," Labagh said.

It sure did.

The Rams went on an impressive 15-0 run spurred by a deep three-pointer by Bryant and a couple of thunderous dunks by Brown that changed the momentum of the game.

City College was enjoying its biggest crowd of the year and the Rams faithful were getting so carried away by the Rams' run that the referees gave a verbal warning to coach Labagh. "It was a great crowd, a great atmosphere," Labagh said after the game.

The Pioneers kept it close in a first half that saw 10 lead changes and the Rams taking 42-36 half-time advantage.

There were huge contributions from the bench. Govinda Tomas-Carte, Terrell Anderson and Juma Kamara combined to score 25 points off the bench.

"In my mind everyone is a starter," said Labagh.

Softball Team Ready to Go
Women in right direction to reach post season after sub-par 2003

BY SEAN MOORE
Staff Writer

The City College Rams softball team has already ignited their season and won more games in nine tries than in all of last year.

Manny Balelo walks off the diamond after the Rams win in their first home game against Canada College, 4-2. The baseball team has won their first two division games. See issue five to get a complete update on their season. COLLEEN CUMMINS / GUARDSMAN

Led by captains Liz Torres and Lily Hernandez, the softball team has a much different approach this year. With a squad of 14 players, the youth of the freshmen have taken over. City College will be relying on young pitchers Jamika Taylor and Linh Lam to lead their staff.

"This is much more competitive than high school," said Lam, a Galileo Academy graduate.

Her counterpart, Taylor, thinks this year the team will actually come together. "There's a lot of leaders, and a lot of good talent," said Taylor, who attended Fresno State last semester.

The Rams have already achieved so much in the early part of the season. City College finished second in the Monterey Tournament by winning four out of five games. Then, they defeated Los Medanos, a team they weren't expected to do well against.

The pitching is holding up well this year, as is the hitting. Players like captain Hernandez have been ripping the ball. "We really are stepping it up this year. We are much more united," said Hernandez, who batted an amazing .737 in the Monterey Tournament.

After missing the playoffs last season, the Rams believe they are ready to take their team a step further. Coach Frank Sinkavich believes he has the team that can beat the "big four" and make it into the playoffs. The big four are: De Anza College, College of San Mateo, Chabot College, and Ohlone College.

Captain Hernandez characterizes this year's team as "more hungry to win."

BY ZURI BERRY
Editor

Once a Clarett always a Clarett.

As Maurice Clarett bungled his way out of Ohio State by taking cheap money, he tore down the doors to the NFL, leaving skeptics wondering if he not only deserves to play in the NFL, but questioning if he can.

In a league full of "big boys," he's going to be the "little man." There are no more excuses to miss class now, you get paid for them and absences are deducted from your check. Let's not even talk about how unfair tardies are going to be. It all comes fully loaded in the life of a professional athlete.

I don't think Clarett understands that school never really ends. He's going to receive a wake up call when he not only has to worry about getting killed on the football field, but in the film room when he hasn't done his homework on the opposing defense. Millions sound really good, but if he doesn't like school he might want to pass up on the playbook that resembles a phonebook.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KRT

What's sad is this young man shook off his responsibilities as a student and is jumping straight into the pros, so now the question is whether he's learned enough to have the equivalent of a football degree. With nagging injuries in his freshman year and a sophomore year that resembled George W. Bush's service record in the Air National Guard, Clarett may be all hype.

With a 6-foot, 230-pound build, Clarett appears to be the prototypical NFL player, but where will he stand when compared to the other possible draftees? There are still questions in regards to his talent level. Let's check his stats: one national championship, 1,237 career-rushing yards, 16 career touchdowns and four Ohio State investigations...

As revelations occur, expert analysis from ESPN regards him as a second-round draft pick. Again skeptics wonder if that is good enough to challenge the system for a chance in a league that doesn't want him.

Clarett probably hasn't considered that he has just finished painting a target on himself and that some of his future peers might want to give him their own personal welcome. With Mike Williams of USC following his footsteps we may be looking at a new generation.

Will younger athletes water down the NFL's talent level? Will teams ever draft players that are good in high school? Unlikely. Many good high school players are overlooked by colleges, and for the NFL to pick up on destined college stars will only deplete their source.

Simply put, if you are legally a man, you can work a man's job. It's just sad that in the profession he's chosen he has homework to deal with.

Men's Team Takes First For Rotational Meet At Home
Women's team follows up behind West Valley to take second place for City College's Invitational

BY TRACY HELD
Staff Writer

Jasmine Benton sprints to a start in the 4x100 relay. JORGE PARADA / GUARDSMAN

Injuries, sloppy starts, freezing temperatures and windy weather didn't stop the Rams from trampling the competition at the City College Track and Field Rotational meet on Feb. 27, where the men's team came in first with 164 points and the women's team placed second with 80 points.

According to the website weather.com, the wind in San Francisco was blowing at about 8mph at the beginning of the meet and increased to 21mph by the end. This resistance affected runners throughout the day.

Despite the wind, Coach Douglas Owyang said, "The effort has been really good."

While other students bundled themselves in blankets, Mike Sullivan of City College ran the 3,000 meter steeplechase with his bare legs wet from the water puddles. The steeplechase is the only track or field event involving water.

At least one Ram placed in the top five in 21 out of 34 events. Of the 12 first place events captured by City College, the only field event was for the men's long jump.

Jamal Liggin cranks out the last meters in the men's 100 m dash. Liggin placed second. ANTHONY CASTELLANO / GUARDSMAN

So far, Jamal Liggin is City College's star field competitor. Liggin propelled down the runway, his petite braids flopping in the wind, until he burst off the platform, with arms and legs stretched out like a skydiver, over and into the sand pit.

Liggin won the men's long jump with 21' 2.5".

Unlike many of the other jumpers, Liggin doesn't plop into the sand. He bounces into the pit and propels forward to maximize the momentum of the jump and avoid the penalty for landing backward.

Stepping backward or making handprints behind the feet cost several jumpers as many as six inches.

As good as Liggin is in the long jump, he said the 200m dash is his strongest event. "I pick it up after the 100 meter, when everyone else gets tired," he said.

Jason Heard, Liggin, and Pius Egu tore up the 100m dash and finished in the top three within 0.37 seconds of each other. Liggin beat Egu by a head, ducking forward at the last four-hundredths of a moment.

Lois Lewis-Hernandez of City College came in second for the women's long jump with 14' 2.5".

Coach Owyang expected the women's 4 by 400m relay to be a highlight, but an injury to Charlotte Gage in the 400 hurdles kept her out of the race. The City College women ultimately didn't compete in the event.

Enough City College men competed in the 4 by 400 meter relay to form two teams. By the second lap, it was Ram vs. Ram at 3:16.52 and 3:17.16. The other teams trailed over nine seconds behind. The men also finished first with 41.92 seconds in the 4 by 100m relay.

Despite the success, Anthony Daniels, the second leg of the men's 4 by 100m relay said, "I'm never satisfied. I'm always working for a little more progress."

After the race, Jeffrey Gehringer got a celebratory hug from his mom for finishing first in the 5000m run.

"I did a good job," Gehringer said. "I'm just out there to win. Whatever time I got is what I got."