 "Photo: Sam Attal / The Advocate")
 "Photo: Joe Phutiyotin / The Advocate")
FREMONT — Defensive struggles throughout the game proved to be costly, as the women’s basketball team was defeated by Ohlone College in the semi-final round of the NorCal Regional playoffs here on Friday.
Contra Costa College (19-10 overall, 11-5 in the Bay Valley Conference) failed to maintain its defensive intensity late in the game, falling to Ohlone (19-8 overall, 12-0 in the Coast South Conference) in a 71-67 result.
“We had some lapses,” Comet coach Paul DeBolt said. “We did not do what we had to do on defense to contain Ohlone.”
CCC went 11-7 on away games this season.
The game opened up dry for both teams, as they had trouble maintaining offensive rebounds and making baskets. The Renegades, however, were able to strike first with a 3-point shot.
“It was difficult to make baskets,” Comet guard Savannah Stewart said. “We weren’t rebounding the ball well and our aggressiveness did not match (Ohlone’s).”
The Comets struggled to score early, missing their first five shot attempts before finally scoring when guard Alana Aquino made two free throws five minutes into the game.
“We were overanxious, and we tried to do everything in a rush,” Comet guard Zenaia Hunt said.
wo-time Bay Valley Conference Most Valuable Player Kenyanna “K.K.” Martin had difficulties scoring early in the game, going 0-6 before making her first basket of the game on a transition layup.
The Renegades were able to attack CCC’s struggling interior defense, making several layups, allowing Ohlone to remain on top for the majority of the first half.
“One of our biggest weaknesses is our interior defense, since we lost (forward) Kandy Stewart to a torn (anterior cruciate ligament) in December,” DeBolt said.
Despite being unable to contain Ohlone’s offense, the Comets were able to stay in the game with Martin being able to spark up her offensive intensity late in the first half, nailing several tough layups and getting to the free throw line three times.
Although the Comets struggled in its defensive intensity, Ohlone’s defense committed a total of 10 team fouls in the first half compared to CCC’s four.
The Comets trailed the Renegades 31-24 in the first half, however, with Martin and Ohlone guard Ganeaya Rogers leading their respective teams with 10 points.
The second half started roughly for CCC, as it committed three straight turnovers by overthrowing the ball and getting picked off by the Ohlone defense. The Renegades were able to capitalize on them and score seven consecutive shots, including two 3-pointers from guard Jasmine Rubin, giving them a 14-point lead.
“We had a defensive meltdown (coming into the second half),” Stewart said. “We thought Ohlone could have blown us out.”
The Comets as a team struggled to establish an offensive game early in the second half, as Martin scored 11 of the team’s 12 points. The Renegades, however, continued to answer back, keeping them up 13 points at 40-27.
After a CCC timeout to stop the Renegades’ momentum, the Comets began to turn up their intensity on both ends of the court, making key stops on defense and spreading the ball around among its players on offense.
Offensively, CCC was able to go on an 18-4 run, led by free throw shots, key layups and two three-pointers by Hunt and guard Lakesha Montgomery, bringing CCC back to within three, trailing 48-45.
“There is no such thing as 15-point baskets, so we had to make shots and get into a rhythm,” DeBolt said. “We came all the way back from the deficit, and the players made a great effort.”
The Comets were able to gain the lead for the first time since early in the first half after a turnaround jump shot by Martin that made the score 49-48.
CCC went back to its poor execution on the defensive end shortly afterward and again allowed the Renegades to attack the basket and confuse the interior defense by the point guard kicking the ball out to open shooters.
“We rattled them defensively, got into a defensive rhythm,” DeBolt said. “However, we had trouble stopping them from scoring in the last few minutes.”
Despite the lack of defense, the Comets were able to maintain their offensive intensity, answering back to Ohlone’s baskets, as both teams exchanged points until the final seconds of the game.
After an Ohlone timeout with 16 seconds remaining and CCC up 67-66, Rogers took advantage of the lack of interior defensive play of the Comets by splitting the defense and making a layup, giving the Renegades the one-point lead.
The Comets then committed a costly turnover by throwing the ball right back to the Renegades after the inbounds, and Ohlone was able to hold onto its lead and take the game in a 71-67 result.
The Comets had a total of 14 turnovers in the game.
“I feel we should have won the game,” a disappointed DeBolt said. “However, we had a defensive collapse in the end.”
Contact Malcolm Lastra at mlastra.advocate@gmail.com
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