Modesto JC men, women open Big 8 season at home against Cosumnes River

There will be no gentle testing-of-the-water Big 8 Conference opener for the Modesto Junior College men’s basketball team.

The Pirates jump into the deep end against Cosumnes River, the two-time defending league champion, Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at MJC Gym. The women’s game follows at 7:30.

Cosumnes River (9-6), winner of seven of its last 10, won’t feel the usual visiting-team unfamiliarity. The Hawks played three games at last month’s 79th MJC Tournament and reached the final before losing to Fresno.

Modesto (4-8) has lost its last six, though it was competitive in MJC tournament losses to Marin and Lassen. The game also will be Mike Girardi’s debut as MJC men’s coach. Girardi coaches both the men and women this season. Last season under Paul Brogan, the Modesto men won their last four and finished 7-7 in conference and 13-13 overall.

Guard Jemeil King averages 19.3 points a game for the Pirates, and forward Jordan Thornton has contributed 14.3 points and 9.8 rebounds. Guard Jaron Dickson averages 11.2 points. The MJC backcourt fuels its up-tempo offense.

The hard-working 6-foot-4 Thornton, who’s played only the last four games following an early-season injury, has given the Pirates a lift. Modesto will need all of that inside help after the academic loss of 6-8 Josh Allen, who was most responsible for the team’s encouraging start. Allen will not return this season.

“We’re not the tallest team around, and our guards have to help rebounding,” Girardi said. “It’s been good to see Jordan step up and develop. He plays a lot bigger than he is.”

The Big 8 race should be competitive with Diablo Valley (12-3) carrying a seven-game winning streak after tournament titles at West Valley and Chabot. Santa Rosa is 9-5 and American River is 7-4. Only Modesto and Delta have dropped below .500.

The Modesto women (5-4) hope to show their improvement against Cosumnes River (4-9). The Pirates went 0-14 in the Big 8 in 2016 and have won only three league games in the last three seasons.

Part of their struggles stem from the demanding Big 8. The league, once again, is loaded. Defending champion Sierra (13-1) is ranked second in the state and has lost only to top-ranked East Los Angeles. Sierra, Diablo Valley (13-3) and Delta (13-3) have combined to win eight tournament titles before league play.

Rashonne Founts tops all MJC scorers with 16.2 points, followed by Dayna Hansen with 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds and Shealyn Craven with 9.9 points.

Modesto started 5-2 and placed third at the Las Positas tournament due in part to a more balanced offense. Founts and Hansen provide scoring punch inside, while Craven, Raquel Garcia and Mikaela Jimenez hit from the perimeter.

“Everybody is 0-0. This is what you prepare for,” Girardi said. “It’s good to be at home for the first game.”

This story was originally published January 2, 2017 at 1:23 PM with the headline "Modesto JC men, women open Big 8 season at home against Cosumnes River."