Ganeaya Rogers flipped in the decisive go-ahead layup with 12 seconds remaining as the eighth-seed Ohlone Lady Renegades defeated the ninth-seed Contra Costa Comets 71-67 in last Friday’s first-round playoff game in Fremont.“This feels really good,” Ohlone Coach Julia Allender said after the victory. “Not a tougher kid could have hit a bigger shot.”The game featured two teams closely matched in skill and athleticism, as well as two of the top scorers in the state in Comets’ guard Kenyanna Martin and Renegades’ guard Jasmine Rubin. Martin came into Friday night averaging 23.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.3 steals, while Rubin entered the game averaging 21 points per game and shooting 38 percent from beyond the three-point line.Rubin and Martin were effectively neutralized while guarding each other early on. Martin’s first score came on a banking jumper in traffic at the nine-minute mark. Rubin did not score until a three pointer with 8:03 remaining in the half that put Ohlone up 19-16. Both stars, however, would quickly heat up.At halftime, with Ohlone holding a 31-24 lead, Rubin had nine points while Martin had 11.Rogers chipped in eight first half points with several determined drives to the hoop.Ohlone opened the second half with a sudden offensive burst as guard Crystal McLaughlin hit a long two-point jumper along the baseline.After that, everything started to go wrong for Ohlone. Ohlone committed turnover after turnover, despite coach Allender calling two timeouts in an effort to settle her team down.“I’ve got tough kids.” Allender said.“All season long, every big game. They’re just not going to go away. They kept themselves in it.”After that, the game became a shootout, as each team scored basket after basket. After a Martin jumper, Ohlone failed to score on their ensuing possession, it looked as though the Renegades’ season might be coming to an end.With 30.9 seconds remaining, and Ohlone needing a defensive stop, the Lady Renegades forced a Contra Costa miss and Valenzuela knocked the rebound out lay the ball in, giving Ohlone a 68-67 lead.Contra Costa rushed the ball up to midcourt in a desperate effort to turn the tables, but Valenzuela stole the ball and was immediately fouled with 7.1 seconds still on the clock.As the Comets were not yet over the bonus, they would need to foul one more time before forcing Ohlone to shoot free throws.Ohlone inbounded the ball to Rogers, who was fouled roughly by Comets’ guard Zenaia Hunt.Rogers hit three of her last four free throws in the game’s final seconds to close out Ohlone’s four-point, 71-67 win, sending them to the Regional Final, just one game away from the State tournament.Rogers finished with 15 points and nine assists. Rubin had 25 points on 10/17 shooting. Martin ended up with 28 points.“A lot of people didn’t expect us to be in playoff position this year,” Rogers said after the game.“Now that we’ve made it to the second round, it means a lot to have proved people wrong.”Ohlone’s second round opponent will be arguably the state’s best community college team in top seeded City College of San Francisco.CCSF defeated Ohlone during the regular season 69-46.The game will be played in Saturday night in San Francisco at 5:30 p.m.
By Kevin YinStaff writer
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