Columbia tips off today at 2

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The Columbia College Claim Jumpers will begin their men's basketball season at the earliest possible date — today — against a very familiar face.

The Claim Jumpers will open against Chabot and head coach Denny Aye, who led Columbia to its 1993 state title, today at 2 p.m. in the first round of the eight-team Las Positas tournament.

Nate Rein starts his seventh season as Columbia head coach with a team that hopes to improve from its 6-22 record in 2008-09. Two new players, the 6-foot-5 former Golden Valley star John Sykes and 6-7 transfer Evan Scott, give the Claim Jumpers some new energy.

Scott played on the Cal State Northridge team last year that won the Big West Conference title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Serving as one of Rein's assistants is James Blake, Northridge's recruiting coordinator the last two seasons.

"If we can defend, we'll win," Rein said. "We have a lot of kids who can score."

Other projected starters today for Columbia are point guard Bobby Monges (Oakdale), Duran Perry and 6-6 post Travis Mayo. Also on the roster is 30-year-old Patrick Rein, an Oakdale graduate and Nate's brother.

The Claim Jumpers will travel to Modesto Junior College for the Pirates' home opener Tuesday night, Nov. 17. Columbia's first home game is Saturday, Nov. 21, against Cosumnes River.

MJC WOMEN -- The Pirates' 9-20 record last year (6-8 in the Big 8) was slightly misleading. They won six of their last 10 and, according to coach Mike Girardi, "kept a couple of teams out of the playoffs."

Girardi hopes to carry that momentum into today's season opener, a noon start against Butte at the eight-team Cosumnes River tournament. The Pirates return three starters: 5-9 forward Kristen McClure (10 points per game last season) and guards Cassandra Calderon and Katie Kaech.

McClure, an All-Valley Oak League selection and track and field standout at Ceres High, sat out one season while she recovered from knee surgery. She figures highly in all MJC plans this season, though the remaining eight freshmen must develop quickly.

"I like this group because they work hard and are coachable," Girardi said. "I think we're a little deeper this year."