Renegade Rip

Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Erik Aguilar BC's Dana Arneson concentrates on her game.

According to assistant basketball coach Aaron Chavez, there are no basket cases this season in Bakersfield College's men's basketball team.
"We're very athletic. We're better than we were last year; we have a lot of return players, but we also have a lot of quality freshmen who will help the sophomores out," Chavez said.
This year the team has 12 players; according to Chavez, most teams usually have only nine.
The team, Chavez said, is looking forward to strengthening its defense.
"We press 40 minutes a game," Chavez said.
Chavez admitted he is eager to see the new freshmen "add a one-two punch" to future games.
Head coach Rich Hughes believes that the team can profit from the experience of the sophomores; Hughes says there are five returning players, including Terrence Johns who won all state last year and Steve Alford who was all-conference last year.
Hughes said that not only is experience a team strength, but speed also has proven to be a great team asset. However, Hughes conceded that the team's rebounding efforts need improvement.
"We are a smaller team this year, so we need to do a better job of rebounding," Hughes said.
BC opened the season Nov. 7 by beating Hancock 132-91.
Nov. 9-11, the team will engage Ventura at Ventura's Tournament. Nov. 16-18, the team will challenge Fresno/Reedley at the Fresno/Reedley Tournament. Nov. 24-26 is when the team will have its own tournament at Bakersfield.
Volleyball
BC's game against College of the Canyons Oct. 31 was not abysmal. The Renegades won 3-0.
However, their game against Citrus College Nov. 3 was a lemon with the team losing 3-1.
Nevertheless, as Coach Carl Ferreira says, the team's strengths continue to be an "ability to manage the game."
"I really enjoy this about this team," he said.
With an overall record of 7-5 and 5-4 for WSC, the team continues, as Ferreira says, to try to "minimize unforced errors."
Defensive Specialist Jennifer Brite, 18, believes the team has "improved dramatically."
Brite notes that the team's strengths include all of the members' readiness to learn from each game situation, and she also cites the members' strong "relationship with each other" as the team's strengths.
"This is the best season ever," said Candice Roach, middle blocker, 20. "The group is great, we work together, and the coach is awesome."

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