GILROY
– The Gavilan College men’s basketball team was unable to match
the firepower of Ohlone College, the state’s sixth ranked team, as
the host Rams went down 81-55 in Saturday night’s matchup.
GILROY – The Gavilan College men’s basketball team was unable to match the firepower of Ohlone College, the state’s sixth ranked team, as the host Rams went down 81-55 in Saturday night’s matchup.
“We played one of the best teams in the state,” said Chris Shoemaker, head coach for the Rams. “What they do is apply a tremendous amount of pressure on defense and it has a tendency to take people out of their offense, and that is what they did to us.”
Gavilan (2-13) looked hard pressed in the very beginning as Ohlone was able to jump out to a quick lead and never look back. In the first half, the visitors’ peaked at a 14-point spread, which was cut to as low as seven by the feisty Rams.
Ohlone (13-1) kept the Rams off balance as they forced fouls and turnovers that prevented them from mounting any serious offensive drive. Gavilan turned the ball over eight times in the first half, while Ohlone only gave it up twice.
The Rams were boxed out at nearly every opportunity and sophomore forward Jimmy Cheatum led the team with just five boards.
Gavilan was able to mount a comeback late in the half, forcing fouls by Ohlone, and the shots began to fall. By the time the first half was over, the Rams found themselves down by just 10, 37-27.
But once again turnovers, fouls and Ohlone’s second shot chances drove away any hope for a Ram comeback.
Coach Shoemaker was also pleased with how his team performed, despite the unfavorable outcome.
“I am really proud of my guys,” Shoemaker said. “They were playing one of the best teams in the state and I think they continued to compete and play hard. We have been working really hard and even though it wasn’t evident tonight, we are getting better.”
Gavilan opens its conference schedule by hosting Hartnell on Friday at 7 p.m.
