As much as I watch the NFL network to convince myself that football never takes a backseat to any sport, that all changes during the third weekend of this month, when March Madness, the best tournament in the world starts.

College basketball hits the forefront, as the 64-team, three week tournament produces highlights and memories which stick with you for a lifetime.

There will be the teams from the power conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10, etc.), getting beaten by some small college somewhere in the middle of Kentucky; thus causing fans to rip up their brackets and shake their heads in disgust.

This year I have North Carolina, Louisville, Memphis, and Pittsburgh eventually making the Final Four. I’ll probably be one of those fans tossing ye ol’ bracket in the trash. I mean, I’m the same kid who finished sixth, second-to-last, and last place in the last three years.

Still, March Madness is one of the best sporting events out there. I can’t wait to watch upsets, buzzer beaters, and games that become instant classics. Just lead me to the Cheetos, beer, and I’ll be okay.

NBA MVP Race

Watching the National Basketball Association during the regular season can be a drag. One thing that has stood out recently is the most valuable player race between LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade.

If the season ended today, my vote would go to James. Kobe is great and Wade has been a nightly highlight reel, but it’s “King” James who is the most unselfish superstar to come into the league during the last fifteen years.

James is only 24 years old, and even though he has the composure of a 10-year veteran, he has yet to hit his peak. Leading the NBA with nearly 29 points a game, seven rebounds, and seven assists, James flirts with triple-doubles nightly.

Not to take anything away from Kobe and D-Wade, both are right there with James in terms of overall greatness. It’s James though, who has been this season’s best player.

Random Thoughts

Watching the World Baseball Classic has been exciting in it’s second go-round. It has taken my mind off all the talk about steroids that’s going on in major league baseball.

It just sucks that it’s over and we soon have to deal with A-Rod, commissioner Bud Selig and hearing about how Barry Bonds’ court case has been delayed for the 2,176th time. Ahhhhhh…

Why are the Red Sox still taking shots at Manny Ramirez? It’s a dead issue now. He’s gone to L.A. and he’s happy there.

I got a suggestion for the Sox: Worry about the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. By the end of this season, the Sox will be in third place and missing the “distraction” they called Manny Ramirez…

A big round of applause for boxing this year. Finally, promoters and network television are getting together, producing great match-ups, and airing them for free. It’s been refreshing to see boxing produce great events and set up the fights fans want to see.

All-conference member freshman center Britney Allen. ERIC SUN / SPECIAL TO THE GUARDSMAN

By Aaron Turner
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

As the final horn sounded at Selland Arena in Fresno on Friday March 13, so too sounded the end of a dream season for the Rams.

In heartbreaking fashion, the Rams lost 95-93 in overtime to Pasedena City College. The Rams 2008-2009 season saw the women’s basketball team reach a 34-3 record, the best ever at City College.

Freshman guard Jazmine Holmes led the way for City College with 26 points and four assists.

She was accompanied by the other two guards in the dynamic freshman trio, as Moné Peoples finished with 20 points, and Brittney Allen with 18 points.

Sophomore forward Monique Calvello also added 17 points of her own, along with nine rebounds.
Pasadena ultimately proved to be up to the tough task of handling the Rams scorers.

Sophomore guard Kinyada Johnson led all scorers with 34 points, before leaving the game in the final minutes with a leg cramp. Easter Faafiti also finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds to help guide the balanced Pasadena attack.

“We have never played that well and not walked away with a win,” Calvello said. “[Pasadena] put on a top show, and despite the fact that we were running and gunning, that team was just ready to go as well.”

Neither team was able to secure a significant lead. After a fast-paced, high-scoring affair in the first half, the Rams went in at halftime and were down by one point.

Pasadena got off the blocks quickly in the second half opening up with a 12-6 run to push their lead to seven points.

The Rams answered back with an 11-0 run of their own, as both Allen and Peoples began to heat up from beyond the arc.  Down the stretch, the teams swapped lead changes seven times.

After coaxing a late foul call, the Lancers converted 1 of 2 free throws to send the game to overtime.
Once in overtime, the Rams fell down by six points after three quick Pasadena scores.

Despite a few big shots by Holmes and Calvello, the Rams were simply unable to muster a final comeback.

The victorious Pasadena Lancers would go on to advance to the championship game where they won the state title.

Following the game, head coach Jamie Wong praised for her team’s accomplishments.

“Overall, we had a great season,” Wong said. “We had a great run, undefeated in our preseason, six tournament championships, and three all-conference players. How can I be disappointed?”

As far as next season is concerned, Jazmine Holmes, who was a runner-up for conference player of the year, is nothing but optimistic. The team has a good core of players coming back.

“I expect us to be just as good, or even better next season,” Holmes said.
Moné Peoples, one of the top players returning next year along with Holmes and Allen, is also excited about the team that will be taking the court next year.

“Next year, we expect to be even better,” said Peoples.  “When [the Freshmen] return, we’re just going to do that much more. We know how it feels to lose like we did, and we don’t want to experience that again.”

By Bonta Hill
SPORTS EDITOR

In need of a win at home to keep pace with the conference leaders, the Rams were able to handle business as they clobbered De Anza College 11-3 on Thursday, March 19.

Prince Dean powered the Rams, going 2-4 with 4 RBI’s. Juan Ortega and Barney Evans both went 2-4 with 2 RBI’s each, as City College got their second win of the season at Balboa Park. The victory over De Anza evened the Rams record to 5-5 in the Coast Golden Gate Conference, and 13-10 overall.

Rams starter Irvin Huerta went five innings, before being taken out due to elbow tightness. However, the game would never be close, as the Rams scored early and often. Scoring at least one run in six of the nine innings, the Rams kept the pressure on De Anza, as they were on the bases all game long.

If the Rams are to have hopes of making a run at the conference title, they will need the same kind of offensive production for the remainder of the season. Manager John Vanoncini knew exactly who the catalyst is for that production.

“Barney Evans is the league’s leading hitter,”  Vanoncini said. “He’s been our biggest contributor all year.”

The Rams will play nine of their last 15 games at home to close out the season. The team will look to gain ground on the top two teams, West Valley and San Jose City College. Their next home game will be Thursday, March 26, against San Mateo.

City College then hosts Skyline, a team that will be looking for revenge after both teams’ season opener. That game will be Saturday, March 28, at noon.

With the second half of the season heavy with home games, the chance for the Rams to creep up the standings has never been better.

“We’re right in the mix for the conference right now,” Vanoncini said.

If the Rams can muster up a second half run, they may find themselves in prime playoff position at the end of the season.

As of press time, the Rams lost to Ohlone 14-1.  Their record now stands at 13-11 overall and 5-6 in conference.

Conference player of the year and First-team All State member freshman center Da'Ron Sims. ERIC SUN / SPECIAL TO THE GUARDSMAN

By Bonta Hill
SPORTS EDITOR

Coming into the season, the men’s basketball team here at City College of San Francisco didn’t know what to expect.

They ended up leaving Fresno expecting something they didn’t get: The program’s first state championship since 1962.

The Rams lost to the Riverside Tigers 61-57 at Selland Arena in Fresno, Calif. March 13. Their inability to make baskets, prevent second shot opportunities and 19 turnovers proved to be too much to overcome.

Still, the team finished with 30-9 record, and a fourth coast conference championship. Coach Justin Labagh knew his team had as good of a shot as any team left in the final four.

“I thought we over achieved this season, which is good,” Labagh said. “I also thought that the teams left when we stepped onto the floor [Riverside, Saddleback, San Joaquin Delta], we had an honest shot to beat them, and probably should have won it all.”

Things were looking good as the Rams jumped to an early 20-10 lead midway through the first half. With four minutes left, forward Greer Wright, playing his last game in a Rams jersey, layed in two points to a 32-23 lead.

Riverside, hailing from the Orange Coast Conference in the Los Angeles area, went on an 8-0 run to the end the half down 32-31, and took all confidence with them.

“I thought we had it with three minutes left in the first half,” Wright, who finished with 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists, said. “They got the momentum and [Riverside] kept it. It was tough.”

In the second half, Da’Ron Sims, Coast Conference player of the year, tried to carry the Rams on his back. The freshman center finished with a game high 21 points, and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to save his team.

Riverside went up 45-39 on a 7-0 run, but the Rams scrapped their way back to briefly take the lead 46-45 with 10 minutes left in the game.

Riverside called a timeout to take the lead 47-46. They never trailed the rest of the game.

The Rams shot 32 percent in the second half and finished shooting 3-19 from the three-point line. They also fell below their 83-point scoring average as a team.

“It was more fatigue from the game against San Bernandino Valley,” Sims, whose team defeated S.B.V. 92-87 March 12 to get to the final four, said. “We made some key mistakes offensively and defensively, but we didn’t make the shots that we usually make.”

With Riverside making their free throws down the stretch to go along with the Rams poor shooting, it all added up to equal the last game of the season.

“[Riverside] played well on defense,” Labagh said. “We had a hard time getting into our offense. But it was on our shoulders that we played bad offense.”

Coming back next season will be Sims and conference defensive player of the year Christopher White. They will also be welcoming two highly touted recruits next season, All-City guard De’End Parker from Lincoln high school, and Southern Idaho Junior college transfer John Williams.

Labagh praised his current team for fighting through adversity throughout the season. The Rams were in fourth place in mid-January, yet won 11 straight to turn their season around.

“The thing with this team is [we] didn’t have superstars and they all gave back,” Labagh said. “We were a better team for it and we have to recreate that to get back down to the final four [next year].”

Freshman guards Mone Peoples (32) and Brittney Allen celebrate their trip to the Elite Eight after a hard fought victory over rival Skyline March 7 at the Wellness Center. RYAN FLORES / THE GUARDSMAN

By Bonta Hill
SPORTS EDITOR

Beating a team three times in one season is difficult, but not impossible. This past Saturday, the City College women’s basketball team proved it is indeed possible.

Facing league rival Skyline College for the third time this season, the Trojans gave the Rams a punch to the gut. Courtney Buster, who was named  second team all-state, led the way with 17 points and 23 rebounds as the Rams pulled out a 70-59 victory in front of an electric crowd at the Wellness Center. First team all-state point guard Jazmine Holmes finished with 17 points and six assists.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but we were confident,” said  Brittney Allen, who finished with 17 points and six rebounds. “I’m so happy right now for my team.”

For the second time in four seasons Coach Jamie Wong will lead her Rams to the Elite Eight. Their chances to return home as state championships are good.

The championships start Friday, March 13 and the deciding final game is scheduled for Sunday, March 15. All games this weekend will be played at Selland Arena in the Fresno Convention Center.

After a back and forth affair in the first half, the Rams took a 34-27 lead into the break, as  they were unable to shake loose a pesky Skyline squad. Trojan guard Laura Zalsey kept her squad in the game with lights out three-point shooting.

With 14 minutes to go, Skyline eventually took a brief lead. The Rams offense was a bit out of sync, but their defense picked up the game. After Skyline tied it at 45, the three-pointer became the Rams’ best friend.

“I think we wanted to make sure that we were taking good shots. Maybe we were a little more tentative, but really, in the big picture, overall we had 15 turnovers which isn’t all that horrible,” Wong said. “I am very proud of how our team played. We answered back when we needed too.”

The Rams did answer as Buster hit two layups, guards Stephanie Troung and Mone Peoples hit back-to-back three-pointers and the Rams went on a 10-0 run to take the lead for good 55-45.

Skyline wouldn’t quit. Zalsey kept hit andother three-pointer as Skyline cut the lead to 63-59. That would be Skyline’s last basket of the game.
With the crowd at the sold out gym gasping at every shot, freshman guard Brittney Allen then hit the biggest, and, quite possibly, the luckiest shot of her career.

Allen’s three-pointer bounced off the rim, went straight into the air, and fell through the basket to give the Rams a 66-59 lead with just over four minutes to go. That basket took the air right out Skyline’s sails.

Wong was full of praise for her team’s effort after the game.

“Courtney played great! 23 rebounds in a single game has to be  a record here at City College,” Wong said. “Brit and Jaz have always been a huge contributor to our offense especially in big games.”

This year’s team is determined to bring home a state banner - something that has never happened in the history of women’s basketball here at City College.

“We are all excited about going to Fresno. We reached a goal that we have been working towards since we started back in Oct. 15,” Wong said. “We were 30-plus games away, now we are three games away and we are ready to compete.”

As I sit on my reclining couch flipping through the sports channels, I think to myself, “Are we really in a recession?”

If you’re defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, you probably don’t even know how to spell recession. Big Albert is the first ever defensive player in the NFL to sign a contract that could be worth up to $115 million. The Washington Redskins have guaranteed Haynesworth at least $43 million; all for a man who hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year.

Recently, the Niners sent a private jet to pick up free agent quarterback Kurt Warner. They wined and dined him in an attempt to guide him toward the 49ers. Warner said he “heard a voice from God” that told him he should remain in Arizona and two days later re-signed a deal to stay a Cardinal.

The Niners want to implement a power running game, acquiring a quarterback who wants to throw the ball 40 times a game would have made no sense. Thank God.

One player I want the Niners to bring on is wide receiver Terrell Owens. Yeah, that’s right, I said it.

Niners head coach Mike Singletary is a coach who takes no bull and demands focus. He has command of his locker room and I bet he’d be able to get T.O. to put all his energy into football and stop acting like a kid. He has already humbled one loose cannon Vernon Davis.

Can you imagine Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, and Owens on the field all at once? No defensive coordinator in the NFL would look forward to playing against that trio; not on any given Sunday. (As of press time Terrell Owens signed a one year deal with the Buffalo Bills. There goes my fantasy!)

Just as money won’t buy a football championship, not scoring runs in baseball won’t win games. Will the San Francisco Giants have a player who can hit 20 home runs this season? Giants fans: get ready for a third place finish. The Giants should have spent money on Manny Ramirez — even in a recession that would have been a smart gamble.

While I am happy to be making $10 an hour at a coffee shop during our so-called “recession,” your boy Man-Ram, slugger Manny Ramirez, recently accepted a two-year $45 million offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers and actually felt disrespected by it.

Hell, I don’t blame him! I feel underpaid too — I write articles for the Guardsman, pour cups of coffee in the darkest morning hours, and I can still make my editor-in-chief smile on a bad day.

Tell me that’s not worth some millions. Perhaps “recession” is relative.

By Bonta Hill and Aaron Turner
SPORTS EDITOR AND ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

For the second time in 4 years, both the men’s and women’s Rams basketball teams are headed to the Elite Eight for the State Championship.  Both coach Justin Labagh and Jamie Wong are excited about their teams’ chances of going all the way.

With only three more games separating each team from the title, and both teams are playing at an exceptional level, chances are good that we could see two state trophies in the Wellness Center come March 16.

“You know it’s fun,” said men’s basketball head coach Labagh. “We’ll go to the games, we got fans down there, and we’ll root for the girls. I know they will be doing the same for us.

“It adds to the great tradition of great basketball here at CCSF. The Men’s program has a long standing history of success and now we can give them some company,” said women’s head coach Jamie Wong.

The final three rounds of the state tournament will begin on Thursday, March 12 for the men and Friday, March 13 for the women. All games will be played at the Selland Arena in the Fresno Convention Center.

More Rams basketball coverage

Live coverage via Twitter of the Women’s and Men’s teams competing in the Fresno Convention Center

Men’s Basketball
Justin Labagh is feeling good about his team as they head to Fresno on a 10-game winning streak. Coverage of the Men’s team versus Yuba College.







Women’s Basketball
Jamie Wong has led her team to a 34-2 record heading into the championship round. Coverage of the Women’s team against Skyline College.

Bennie Rhodes goes hard to the rim before getting fouled by Yuba’s Milos Milosevic March 7 in the Wellness Center. Rhodes finished with a game high — 28 points. MICHAEL CRAIN / THE GUARDSMAN

By Aaron Turner
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The California state title is now within the Rams’ sight. This weekend in Fresno will determine whether they go home as champions, or come up short once again.

On March 7, Bennie Rhodes, Steven Brown, and Chris White made sure the Rams would get the opportunity to win it all.

Rhodes led all scorers with 28 points, Brown proved to be a catalyst off the bench, and White kept Yuba College’s inside game under control, as the Rams beat Yuba 98-87 in front of a packed house. This win moves them to the 3rd round of the state playoffs, and places them in prime position to make a run at the championship game.

Yuba came out swinging early, relying primarily on the inside game of forward Bobby Evans. Halfway through the first half, the Rams were down 34-23, with both Greer Wright and Da’Ron Sims in foul trouble. Coach Labagh decided to call a timeout to settle his troops.

“I told them there is only one way they are going to beat us,” said Labagh. “That is if we foul them, or give them extra shot opportunities.  They are not a good enough team to hit one shot on us and go.”

White, the conference defensive player of the year, proved to be valuable down low, as he was matched up with a larger Yuba front court all night.
“I knew coming in that they were going to be bigger than us,” said White who had 20 points and 13 rebounds. “My job was basically just to box out and keep them off the boards as much as I can.”

The Rams remained focused and kept their head in the game despite trailing 44-39 at halftime.

In the second half, the Rams stormed out of the gates with a 12-0 run, holding Yuba without a basket in the first six minutes as Brown hit three consecutive buckets from beyond the arc, all of them down the stretch.

Brown’s crisp shooting both energized his team and got the crowd back into the game. The five-point halftime deficit soon turned into a 10-point lead for the Rams. Once up, the team never looked back.

“I think I had like one three-pointer in the past two games, so tonight was the right time to get hot again,” said Brown, who finished with 15 points.
“Steven is a guy where if he’s feeling it, our whole offense is better,” Labagh said. “[Steven] needs that kind of confidence, because if that guy hits one, there are usually more to follow.”

Coach Labagh was also confident about the outcome of the game.

“We were really prepared for everything. We knew exactly what they were going to do the whole game,” Labagh said. “We knew if we could get into halftime within 10, we were gonna win by 15.”

The Rams are scheduled to play No. 3 San Bernadino Valley on Thursday, March 12 at 1 p.m. The game will be played at Selland Arena in the Fresno Convention Center.

“It’s whoever is playing the best, that is who has the best shot at winning it all,” Labagh said. “We are exactly where we want to be, which is coming off our best half of basketball all season.”

It has been 46 years since the men’s basketball team has brought home a state title. Both coaches and fans sincerely believe this year’s team may be the one that finally reclaims the glory.

The Guardsman editors Bonta Hill and Aaron Turner will be covering the Rams’ competition in the state basketball championship, held in Fresno, Calif.

LINK: Men’s state bracket

LINK: Women’s state bracket

(state brackets from http://www.coasports.org)

Follow The Guardsman’s City College sports coverage on Twitter via ccsfsports for live City College sports coverage on Twitter!

By Aaron Turner
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

After a gut-wrenching loss to bitter rival Foothill College on Jan. 21, The Rams needed to finish strong the remaining month of the season in order to have momentum going into the state playoffs.

Finishing strong is just what they did, winning their next 6 games to finish out the regular season. This gives them the coveted No.1 seed thanks to their 31-2 record, even though they ended one game behind Foothill in the overall Coast Conference standings, with an 8-2 conference record.

“Just because we didn’t win conference, doesn’t mean we can’t win state,” Guard Brittney Allen said. “It hasn’t affected us at all going into the playoffs.”

This confidence is just what the Rams need in order to make a deep run in this year’s state playoffs, as they will up against very tough competition.

The Rams will face either Sacramento City College or College of San Mateo in the first round at the Wellness Center. For Allen, playing at home is not very important.

“I think we may actually play better on the road,” Allen said.

As for head coach Jamie Wong, beating Foothill at home on Feb. 13 was a great way for her team to finish out the season.

“We had an opportunity to play and win against one of the top teams in the state, and that gives us confidence that we can compete with anyone,” Wong said.

Freshman forward Courtney Buster credited a lot of her team’s confidence to the sophomore leadership of guard Stephanie Truong and forward Monique Calvello. Calvello, who suffered an injury a few weeks ago, is still questionable for the playoffs.

“Even through tough times, both Stephanie and Monique have been the glue of our team.” Buster said. “Monique has still been there, even though she is hurt, and has been rooting us on all the way.”

The Rams will be facing some elite competition in the playoffs. In the South, Ventura is 31-0 while in the North, Fresno City and Foothill are 28-6 and 25-6 respectively.

If there is any pressure for the playoffs, none of the Rams players seem to be showing it, as Coach Wong can attest.

“We won 6 tournament championships already in the preseason. We feel confident as ever now.”