Second-half cold spell dooms Modesto JC

With 18 minutes left, the Modesto Junior College Pirates earned the right to pursue an upset victory.

Unfortunately for them, the rules require 40 full minutes – too many for the home team Friday night.

Santa Rosa, a less lethal version of last year’s state championship team, quickly caught and overtook Modesto 65-52. It wasn’t the first lead the Pirates (5-15, 2-6) gave up in Big 8 Conference action, but the cause remains unchanged.

Not enough offense.

“We’re not going to beat anybody when we score only 52 points,” MJC coach Paul Brogan said. “Who are you going to beat when you score only 18 in the second half?”

Not the Bear Cubs (12-10, 5-3), who didn’t blink after they fell behind 39-32 at the 18-minute mark. Guard Davone Oliver strafed MJC for seven triples en route to 22 points, and 6-foot-6 Corey Hammell worked inside for 11. They are the only starters back from last season.

Hammell’s points near the basket triggered a 13-0 run while MJC was blanked for five minutes. Oliver finished the run with back-to-back threes, and MJC did not recover. The Pirates suffered their fourth straight loss, a difficult turn of events for a team that had won two of three.

It didn’t help Brogan’s mood that Santa Rosa was whistled for only seven fouls all night while Modesto netted only 1 of 3 free throws. He also knows the Pirates average only 57 points a game.

“Won’t beat anybody in the Big 8 with only 52 points,” he said.

Modesto overcame Santa Rosa’s eight triples during the first half. A stop on defense led to a three-pointer by Austin Haro as the first-half clock expired to put Modesto in front 34-31.

The Pirates carried their energy into the second half, thanks to a tip-in by Jake Danhoff (eight points) and a three-pointer by Marko Lepovic (eight points). From there, a lid seemed to cover the basket for MJC. Whether or not the shots were contested, few of them fell.

“I thought we shot too quickly in the first half,” Santa Rosa coach Craig McMillan said. “We got more deliberate on offense in the second half and made them play more defense.”

Luka Petkovic came off the bench for 10 points for the Pirates, and Blake Terry finished with nine.

“We just have to hit shots and make basketball plays,” Danhoff summarized. “Hit the shots when we’re open and close out shooters (on defense.).”

Easier said than done this season for MJC.

Women’s basketball

Santa Rosa hangs on – Brianna McGinness, MJC’s hard-working sophomore forward, has staked her claim as one of the most improved players in the Big 8. She scored 21 points, including her first three-pointer of the season in the final seconds of MJC’s 50-48 loss to Santa Rosa.

“I feel way stronger this year,” said McGinness, a former Calaveras High star. “I can go stronger to the basket and faster.”

McGinness, operating with confidence in the paint for a series of baskets, guided Modesto to narrow leads for most of the game. She totaled all but three of her points during the second half. Thanks to her, the Pirates (3-16, 2-6) held a five-point lead with 71/2 minutes left.

MJC positioned itself for an upset against a Santa Rosa program that has won four of the last five Big 8 titles, featuring a state banner in 2011. An 18-footer by Diana Carmona put the Pirates in front 45-44 with 2:05 to go.

Carmona’s driving layup with 1:15 left barely rolled off the rim, however, and MJC lost momentum. After McGinness’ triple drew Modesto to within 50-48 at 13.9 seconds, the Pirates nearly forced a turnover before the Bear Cubs (11-11, 5-3) ran out the clock.

“We are improving,” said MJC coach Mike Girardi, whose team defeated Cosumnes River last week and – against Santa Rosa – rebounded on better-than-even terms. “We fought all the way to the finish, could have won it.”

Santa Rosa guard Brooke Santander answered McGinness with 14 of her 18 points during the second half. Jenna Dunbar had 11 points, four in the final moments.

Kaitlin Gundlach, returning to form in recent weeks after an ankle injury, finished with eight points for Modesto.

This story was originally published January 30, 2015 at 10:53 PM with the headline "Second-half cold spell dooms Modesto JC."