Men set sights on state title

By Bonta Hill and Sean Singer
SPORTS EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

Coming into the season, Rams head coach Justin Labagh didn’t know what to expect from this season’s team. With 10 new players, and arguably the toughest schedule in the state of California, inexperience and maturity was a big concern.

After battling through inconsistencies throughout the season, the Rams have found their groove heading into the state playoffs by winning eight straight games and claiming a share of the coast conference north division for the fifth straight season.

“We went through periods where guys didn’t trust each other, and selfishness hurt us a bit,” Labagh said. “But they’re smart guys and they saw that, [but] it started with that San Joaquin Delta win, and guys showed they can play with their backs against the wall.”

That win against Delta came on Dec. 30, when the Rams won by 34 points and sent a message to the rest of the state. It also put the bulls-eye back on a program that has beat a lot of teams in the last five years.

In a league that was the toughest in Northern California, the Rams faced more adversity. With slip-ups against Los Positas and Ohlone College, 2009 Coast Conference player of the year Da’Ron Sims injured his meniscus in his left knee, and the roller coaster started to go into loops.

“We had our ups and downs,” Sims said. “When it came down to it whether or not we was going to show up collectively night in, night out, but now everybody is on the same page.”

Losing to Los Positas was tough, as the Hawks ended the game with a windmill dunk, and showboating as if they had won the state championship. That was the last time the Rams tasted defeat. The Rams beat Ohlone Feb. 4 to tie for first place and take control of the division and clinch another league title under the Labagh regime.

Leading the Coast Conference in scoring at 80 points per game, the Rams (26-7, 10-2 Coast Conference North Division) are feeling confident about their chances.

The Rams haven’t lost two games in a row all season, and have lost only one home game on the season. Right now, the Rams are feeling good about where they are at.

“We feel good in our gym, we practice there everyday,” Sims said. “I mean we feel real comfortable at home.”

The Rams had some impressive individual performances this season. Freshman forward Da’Ron Sims was second in the conference in scoring at 14 points per game, followed by Bennie Rhodes and Greer Wright at 12 apiece. Point Guard Andrew Davenport led the conference in assists with 6 per game and Chris White was No. 1 in rebounds at 8.4 per contest.

White became the Rams glue man, grabbing rebounds, and showing toughness on the way to be getting named to the conference first team.
“I knew my role wasn’t to score coming in, it was to play defense and grab rebounds,” White said. “I knew we had other players that can score, so that wasn’t my focus.

For the first round, the Rams will be at home, up against Feather River College (12-12) out of the Golden Valley Conference.
Playing the first two rounds at the Wellness Center should be a big boost for the Rams.  However, if the Rams wish to be hoisting the California State Trophy in March, they will have to be at the top of their game.

Some teams to look out for will be undefeated Fresno City College (32-0), and San Joaquin Delta (26-5).  San Jose City will also be looking to revenge an earlier loss to City College, as well as league rival Ohlone.

In the South, San Diego City College (26-4), Citrus (27-4) and Los Angeles City College lead the Southern California schools into playoffs, which should see some very entertaining matchups.

If the Rams play the way they have been for the second half of the season, there is a good chance that City College could be housing the state trophy in the very near future.