The Bakersfield College basketball teams are off to good starts this season.
In fact, BC’s women’s team is so far having a proverbial slamdunk season with seven wins and no losses.
Head Coach Paula Dahl said that thanks to the team’s depth of “unity and athleticism,” the team won the Nov. 10-12 San Diego Mesa Tournament 3-0.
On Nov. 7 at BC, the team beat Allan Hancock 64-60. Nov. 15, the team beat Porterville College in Porterville 72-61. Lastly, the team won two games Nov. 17-18 to win the Hancock Crossover Tournament.
However, Dahl says that there is still a lot more work ahead for the team in terms of building up strengths and decreasing weaknesses. Nevertheless, Dahl said that’s “what’s exciting” about this season.
“It’s early on in the season,” Dahl said. Dahl concedes that the team needs to achieve a higher execution level.”We need to play our game instead of our opponent’s game,” Dahl said.
Dahl said everyone on her team is a standout including point guard and freshmen Amber Williams, who won the All-Area distinction.
Guard Taylor Abercrombie, a sophomore, possesses “tons of speed,” Dahl said. Notable, according to Dahl, is post player Lashay Bagsby, a sophomore who was named All-Conference last year and won state-level honors in the high jump. “She is just an amazing athlete,” Dahl said.
The entire team, Dahl said, has consistently demonstrated speed, skill and brains. Guard Forward Neha Joshi, said Dahl, has an impressive personality, attitude and a “great spin move.”
Guard Jackie Clare, a sophomore, brings “amazing defensive intensity,” Dahl said.
Freshman and post player Elise Riel, according to Dahl, “brings valuable minutes” to the games.
Bagsby said she wants the team to place an emphasis on improving rebounding.
Bagsby also said the team should never “give up.”
The team faced Rio Hondo at BC Nov. 21 and will face Reedley at Reedley Nov. 28. The team will also battle San Bernardino at BC Dec. 2 and Santa Barbara at Santa Barbara Dec. 7.
Coaches for BC’s men’s basketball say the team has stolen the season away from most of its opponents.
Head coach Rich Hughes is encouraged by the season so far; the team has won six games and lost only one.The team placed third, winning two out of three games, in the Ventura Tournament at Hartnell College in Salinas Nov. 9-11. On Nov. 7 the team beat Allan Hancock 132-91. Nov. 16-18, the team beat three teams at the Reedley-Fresno Tournament.
Hughes said the team knows they can do much better than their current record.
“We made too many mental mistakes in the second half of the semifinal game,” Hughes admitted.
Nevertheless, Hughes says that the team has often in the past been able to win games despite making mental mistakes. However, a team goal, Hughes says, is to avoid those mistakes.
According to Hughes, a notable player continues to be shooting guard Terrence Johns, who was named All-Tournament at the Ventura Tournament.
Assistant Coach Aaron Chavez says the team hopes to coerce future opponents into “turning the ball over.” In fact, Chavez admits the team wants to decrease turnouts and “build up on possessions.” “Good defense adjustments must be made to be at the level we want to be at,” Chavez says.
Chavez says he continues to be impressed by Johns and point guard Johnny Machado, who played at North High.
Nov. 24-26, the team will host the Bakersfield Tournament at BC.