Playoff hopes still alive, squad holds off Cougars

A loss to conference leading Yuba College on Feb. 1 dropped the men’s basketball team to third place in the Bay Valley Conference standings heading into Friday’s game against last place (in the BVC) College of Alameda.

The tough contest against the Cougars (5-16 overall, 1-10 in BVC) ended in a five-point (74-69) victory for Contra Costa College, despite the squad blowing a double-digit lead in the first half.  With just six games to play in the season, every game is vital to CCC’s playoff hopes.

“We have to finish second,” coach Miguel Johnson said referring to where the squad needs to place in the conference to make the postseason.

“We’re still in it — we should finish (the year) with 20 wins.”

Currently the men’s basketball team (16-6 overall, 7-3 in the BVC) sits at fourth place in the BVC standings behind conference leading Yuba, second place College of Marin and third place Merritt College. Thus far the Comets have lost two games to Yuba, defeated Merritt College and lost to College of Marin this season.

The Comets will play both Marin and Merritt colleges again before the season ends.

Against Alameda, during the first half the Comets held a 13-point lead, however, a scoring drought to the tune of 12 consecutive misses led to a 28-24 halftime lead in favor of the Comets.

The squads battled in the second half with no team gaining a strict advantage over the other. During the final minutes of the game the Comets were able to knock down critical free throw shots to seal the win.

“Coach (Johnson) let us know that if we don’t win, we don’t go to the playoffs,” forward Phillip Secrease said. “We saw the (first half) lead and we felt we could do what we want — (unfortunately Alameda) didn’t give up.”

Secrease made a circus layup late in the second half to help the Comets hold off the Cougars’ valiant effort.

The Comet defense was able to keep a handle on most COA players — guard Devin Crear being the exception. Crear led all scorers with 24 points including knocking down seven 3-point shots.

Freshman guard Davion Mize led the Comets with 15 points. As of the Jan. 28, the California Community Colleges Coaches Association poll ranks the Comets No. 13 in Northern California.

After last year’s playoff run, sophomore forward J’uan Parker said the Comets are accustomed to facing an opposing squad’s best effort.

“We’ve had success,” he said. “We have a target on our backs and when teams play us, they play their best game.”

Comet Justin Pollard did not play because of an injury.

The sophomore suffered a concussion near the end of the Feb. 1 game against Yuba.

Pollard will return to action once he is medically cleared to play.