Comets streak past 49ers
Contra Costa College used an effective inside-outside attack with post Laitu Venegas and guard Serina Farinas as the Comets beat Yuba, 54-48, in the 49ers' Bay Valley Conference opener on Wednesday.
Farinas was nearly unstoppable from long range, hitting five three-point shots and finishing with a game-high 21 points. Venegas used an effective low post turn-around jump shot to score 11 of her 14 points in the second half.
“(Venegas) was killing us. She was getting excellent position,” Yuba coach Glen Mayol said. “They were overloading on one side with her at the post and then they had their best shooters on that side also. And when they'd get her inside we wouldn't help and she'd spin and we were giving up easy position. Farinas hurt us early because when we went to go double down low, they would kick it out. They played smart basketball.”
Yuba was led by Michel Hughes and Jasmin Wright with 16 points each. However, Wright scored just two points in the second half, each on free throw attempts.
“I have to give (Contra Costa) credit because they were keying on her,” Mayol said of Wright's quiet second half. “Yeah they were keying on her, but yet we needed to be more aggressive on the offensive end.”
Even with Wright struggling in the second half, Yuba kept it close with Hughes sinking buckets. The sophomore guard tied it at 43-all with her only three-pointer of the night with 3:29 left in the game.
But Contra Costa finished off the half with an 11-5 run to seal the win.
“We made some key turnovers late in the game and that's been our problem,” Mayol said.
Hughes had 10 points in the second half and broke a 27-27 tie with a jump shot just inside the arc. The bucket began a 6-0 Yuba run for a 33-27 advantage with 13:00 left in the game.
“She plays at one speed and she plays hard. She's a gamer,” Mayol said.
Contra Costa took back the lead, 34-33, at the 10:41 mark when Farinas scored from inside. Farinas scored nine straight points in a span of four minutes for Contra Costa.
Wright scored 10 straight points for Yuba to end the first half, giving the 49ers a 25-22 lead heading into the break.
“This is one of toughest teams in league,” Mayol said. “Yeah I'm disappointed because you know what, we had this game. That's just game of basketball. Some nights you're going to have it, some nights you're not. The kids played hard and I'll never question how hard they played.”
Appeal-Democrat reporter Justin Miller can be reached at 749-4796. You may e-mail him at jmiller@appealdemocrat.com
