Local Digest: Stanislaus women, 3-0 in CCAA, complete weekend sweep
The Cal State Stanislaus women’s basketball team couldn’t envision a better start to its California Collegiate Athletic Association season.
The Warriors, behind Reana Hardin’s 21 points, completed a weekend sweep Saturday night with a 54-45 win over Humboldt State at Fitzpatrick Arena. Stanislaus (4-6, 3-0) defeated Cal State Monterey Bay 56-45 on Friday night.
The Warriors used a 13-0 run in the first quarter to lead by 14 against a Lumberjacks team (2-8, 1-3) that beat Chico State on Friday night. Humboldt rallied to a 26-26 tie at halftime, but Stanislaus answered to lead by 10 during portions of the second half.
Hardin, a senior guard from Vacaville in her third season for Stanislaus, connected on three of four triples, though Stanislaus overcame icy 28.8 percent shooting (10 of 46). The Warriors compensated by dominating the glass 41-25, as Riley Holladay and Cassidy Sanders-Curry each pulled down nine rebounds.
Stanislaus travels to meet San Jose State, another Division I opponent on its schedule, next Sunday.
Humboldt 3-pointers sink Warrior men – Humboldt State swished 16 3-pointers and erased a three-point halftime deficit to defeat the Warriors 78-58. The Lumberjacks (7-3, 2-2) made their first six 3-pointers of the second half to ignite a 25-7 run. Stanislaus (3-6, 1-2), which split its weekend series, started fast and led by nine in the first half.
Kaelen Mitchell paced Stanislaus with 15 points, followed by Vondel Faniel with 14 points (12 in the first half). Kyle Gouveia helped with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Nikhil Lizotte topped Humboldt with 17 points, including five 3-pointers.
Stanislaus welcomes Fresno Pacific on Dec. 19.
Pirates prepare for 79th tournament – Modesto Junior College prepares for its 79th annual tournament, an eight-team affair to be held Thursday through Saturday. Fresno, the three-time defending champion and the all-time tournament leader with 13 titles, opens the event against Ohlone on Thursday at 2 p.m.
Other first-round matchups Thursday: Lassen vs. Cosumnes River at 4, Sacramento vs. Cuesta at 6 and Marin vs. Modesto at 8.
Columbia’s exciting consolation title – Columbia (5-5) won two tight games and returned home with the consolation title of the Santa Barbara City College Classic. Sophomore guard Lewayne Grant earned an all-tournament honor after totaling 67 points.
Columbia led eventual champion Grossmont by a point with a minute left before it was beaten in the first round 65-61. One day later, the Claim Jumpers rallied from an 18-point deficit to knock off host Santa Barbara 75-72. DeAndre Stallings’ 3-pointer with seven seconds left was the difference. Eugene Harvey hit two free throws with 10 seconds left as Columbia outlasted Oxnard 76-75 in the consolation final.
“Any one of those games could have been flipped. A month ago, we would have lost them all,” Columbia coach Rob Hoyt said. “We’re making progress.”
Rodeo
Oakdale cowboy ranked 15th – Oakdale cowboy Ryle Smith finished 15th in the world in tie-down roping as the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo concluded in Las Vegas. Smith, qualifying for his first WNFR, earned more than $17,000 after his tie for sixth and an outright third during the rodeo’s first two rounds. He finished with a no-time in the 10th and final round Saturday.
Smith ended the year with more than $94,300 in prize money.
Wrestling
Pirates place third at state – MJC’s Noor Kathem (157 pounds) and heavyweight Tristan Smith placed third in their weight classes at the CCCAA State Championships in Victorville. Kathem sealed third with a 26-12 win over Sacramento’s Daniel Larmen. Smith picked up his third by edging David Zavala of Cerritos 1-0.
Fresno City won its state-leading 14th team title.
Home team dominates Riddle – Oakdale celebrated eight weight-class titles during its 41st Riddle Invitational. The victorious Mustangs were Dustin Chavez (120), Jake Abeyta (126), Cody Williams (132), Ricky Torres (138), Gabe Martinez (160), Abel Garcia (170), Colbey Harlan (182) and Luis Ayala (195). Harlan, a junior who qualified for state as a freshman but missed last season due to a knee injury, is 8-0.
Other champions at Oakdale: Brennan Dibble of Summerville (106), Caydin Wickard of Golden Valley (113), Steven Abbate of Central Catholic (145), Brady Mello of Golden Valley (152), Cortland Morse of Golden Valley (220) and David Lezama of Central Valley (285).
Football
American River beaten in state final – An interception with 1:15 left stalled American River’s comeback as the Beavers – who eliminated Modesto in the playoffs three weeks ago – were beaten by Fullerton 29-27 in the state final Saturday in Yorba Linda.
American River (10-3) trailed 29-13 but rallied behind quarterback Griffin Dahn, who was named the game’s top player on offense.
This story was originally published December 10, 2016 at 11:27 PM with the headline "Local Digest: Stanislaus women, 3-0 in CCAA, complete weekend sweep."