Sierra Defeats Ohlone, 79-53

By Matt Folsom, Sierra College Sports Information

The Sierra College women's basketball team will go as far as Ericka Magana takes them. That was never more evident than in Friday's NorCal quarterfinals as the Wolverine point guard's triple-double led fourth-seeded Sierra to a 79-53 wipeout of #13 Ohlone College at Goto/Goldenberg Court in Rocklin.

Magana, recently named to the California Community College Athletic Association All-State team, finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to power the Wolverines (22-8) into Wednesday's regional semifinal in Rocklin. The sophomore from Inderkum High School was relentless as she weaved through a bewildered Renegade defense, converting numerous layups and finding open Wolverines for easy buckets.

"Ericka set the tone," said Sierra mentor Brandie Murrish. "She was not going to be denied. She has shown tremendous growth since last year. Just look at her going 10-13 from the line tonight. She came up big when it mattered."

It took Magana only ten seconds to get things going after she corralled the opening tip and found a streaking Tina Mandich at the left side of the lane for a layup. Four whirlwind minutes later, the Wolverines (22-8) were up 12-2 and the Renegades (19-10), who would get no closer, were about to get blown out of the gym.

A stifling Sierra press held Ohlone to only seven first half buckets as the Wolverines headed to the locker room with a 43-24 lead. Magana had four of her six steals in the first half and each of them led to points. The Renegades had no answer for the Wolverine defense and transition game, even though they came in knowing exactly what they were getting themselves into.

Sierra and Ohlone had met three times since early last season. The Renegades won the 2012-2013 season opener 48-45 at Ohlone, but were humiliated by Sierra 81-60 in a 2013 NorCal regional semifinal game in Rocklin. The Wolverines outlasted the Renegades 72-65 in this season's second game in November.

"Ohlone wanted revenge," said Murrish afterwards. "They have a lot of weapons, but, having played them as often as we had, we knew our pressure could wear them down. They wanted to stop our three-point shooters and force us to beat them with our inside game, which is exactly what we wanted to do."

The Renegades did limit Sierra's sharpshooters. Long-range ace Dakota McLarnan was two of five from beyond the arc and super-sub Joie Camalo was one for four. McLarnan and Camalo usually have nine attempts before the popcorn machine is warmed up, but Sierra's transition game provided so many inside opportunities they didn't need to fire up anything long.

The primary beneficiary of Sierra's inside focus was the 6-1 Mandich, who finished with a career-high 22 points. The Woodcreek high school product was 9-14 from the field, all from five feet or closer, thanks to five offensive rebounds and the aforementioned Magana passes. Fellow post player Jasmine Shedrick, who finished with 10 points, teamed with Mandich to execute the Murrish game plan to perfection.

"Our post game looked the best it has all season," Murrish said. "Tina was so effective playing through contact and she and Jaz knew exactly where they were supposed to be."

The Renegades ran out of gas early trying to break Sierra's full-court press and keep up with the Wolverine fast break. The fitness disparity between the teams, particularly in the second half, was glaring. Murrish credited a unique method for this.

"We've been working out at Rocklin Crossfit all season. They have given us a new sense of confidence and pushed these athletes to a different level."

Sierra's lead hovered near 25 points for most of the second half, allowing the capacity crowd to see all 12 Wolverines. The home crowd, many of them decked out in cardinal and white "Hello Playoffs" t-shirts, earned praise from Murrish, too.

"Our fans give us an amazing home court advantage. You play so hard during the regular season to get home playoff games. Our fans, Roz Goldenberg and our game management staff, and our table create the best atmosphere of any community college I've seen in the state."

Perhaps Ohlone's Megan Scully summed up the Goto/Goldenberg Court advantage best. As the exhausted 5-9 forward emerged from the Renegade locker room after the game, she said, "I hate playing here. We never win here. The whole place just wears me out."

The Wolverines host fifth-seeded City College of San Francisco (25-3), 98-80 winners Saturday night over Contra Costa, Wednesday night at 7:00pm. CCSF, much like Ohlone, is a familiar foe for Sierra. The Rams hung on for a 72-63 win in the championship of the 2013 Sasha Brown Classic at Sierra last November.

All-State forward Tatsiana Dashkevich is the Rams' leading scorer, but CCSF has a solid eight-player rotation that looks to dominate inside. "Their posts really get after it," said Murrish. "They are good rebounders, they are explosive, and, like us, their defense and transition game sets the tone. 

Wednesday night's winner faces either #1 San Joaquin Delta (25-5) or #8 Merced (21-9), who meet in Stockton in the other semifinal, in the Regional Final on March 8. The CCCAA state championship tournament will be March 14-16 at Cerritos College.