Fresno holds off Diablo Valley for another MJC finals title berth

The title game of the 77th Modesto Junior College Tournament matches something new against something that’s, well, always there.

Fresno City College, which survived a hard-fought 72-65 battle over Diablo Valley in a semifinal Friday night, seeks its record 12th MJC Tournament championship tonight against first-time finalist Cosumnes River.

“One of the things I love about this tournament is how it challenges you mentally,” Cosumnes River coach James Giacomazzi said. “Can you be dialed in four times consecutively?”

His Hawks, winners of eight in a row, will have that question answered for them by the relentless Rams, who will pursue their seventh MJC title in nine years.

Fresno (12-3) was extended by Diablo Valley, which led for most of the game and matched the Rams’ trademark aggression. The Vikings (7-7) pushed their advantage to 48-40 with 14 minutes left when Fresno shifted into a gear not often matched by its opponents.

For the next nine minutes, Fresno raced past DVC with a 23-5 explosion. Guards Ryan Swain (12 points) and Nick Hilton poured in two triples apiece during the rally while Fresno intensified on defense.

“My coach (Ed Madec) says, ‘Keep shooting.’ He has that much trust in us,” said Hilton, who connected on his three-pointers after he was assessed a technical foul for taunting. “We know we can run with any team. He (Madec) calls it a war of attrition.”

James O’Neal was Fresno’s leading scorer with 15 points, but the score sheet always discloses Fresno’s major strength. Ten members of the team put points on the board.

Diablo Valley didn’t submit quietly. A three-pointer by Olajuwon Garner (14 points) cut the lead to 68-65 with 15.8 seconds left, but free throws by Dejon Burdeaux and Swain iced it. Joe McNiff topped all Vikings scorers with 16 points.

“Those four or five possessions when we didn’t get off a shot was when (Fresno) got their separation. Ed’s guys are physically tough,” DVC coach Steve Coccimiglio said. “I like my team. We’re getting better.”

Cosumnes River 75, Napa Valley 66 – Guards Trenton Anthony (20 points) and Mitchell Love (17) carried the Cosumnes River in the second half. The Hawks (8-3) shook off a game-opening 12-0 rip by Napa Valley (5-5), one of the tournament’s surprise teams, though the Storm still led 27-26 at the break.

Cosumnes River padded its lead on the free throw line, where it connected on 26 of 37 compared to 8 of 13 for Napa Valley. Still, the Hawks didn’t clinch the win until the final minute.

Guard Corey Burrell topped the Storm with 17 points before he fouled out with 1:58 left.

Columbia 69, Mendocino 60 – A flurry of points by Mike Meserole (21 points) over the last five minutes doused a comeback by Mendocino (4-6). The Eagles closed a 15-point deficit to two but managed only four points in the final 5:25.

“Mendocino is a streak-shooting team. We knew they would make a run,” said the 6-foot Meserole, a hard-working graduate of Liberty Ranch in Galt who spent last season as a redshirt at William Jessup University in Rocklin. “Coach (Rob Hoyt) was calling plays for me, so I just let it come to me.”

The Claim Jumpers (8-4) are improved this season with the addition of freshman guard Marquell Hubbard, who gashed Mendocino for 24 points. They tied a school record with 17 triples to eliminate Yuba on Thursday.

Chabot 90, Lassen 83 – Chabot (7-6), coached by Denny Aye, had lost twice to Lassen (14-5), coached by Denny’s son Devin, over the past month. The father gained a share of revenge with a win that put the Gladiators in the fifth-place game.

“I’m glad we’re still playing. Like most teams, we’re still trying to figure out what we can do,” Denny Aye said. “We (father and son) talked before the game. We hope there’s a fourth meeting, in the playoffs.”

Chabot carried a double-digit lead through most of the game, despite a 33-point performance by Lassen’s Weston Ranch product Eric Duncan.

Lassen missed guard Marvin White, an all-tournament selection in 2013, who tended to his ill mother this week in Fort Worth, Texas.

Foothill 72, De Anza 62 (OT) – Two schools located five minutes apart waged a tight game decided by Foothill’s 12-0 run in overtime. Asante Monadjemi (16 points) ignited the Owls (7-7) in the OT with a three-pointer, rebound-slam and assist.

Lefty guard D.J. Rodriguez of De Anza (5-8) capped a strong tournament with 28 points, including two tying free throws with 23.5 seconds left in regulation.

Ohlone 71, Sacramento 63 – Dani Busto (14 points) and Taylor Meckor (12) anchored Ohlone’s comeback from an eight-point halftime deficit and into the consolation final against Columbia.

This story was originally published December 19, 2014 at 10:58 PM with the headline "Fresno holds off Diablo Valley for another MJC finals title berth."