Sierra College basketball roundup: Lady Wolverines dominate Hawks at home, men lose late in heartbreaker

The Sierra College women's basketball team progressed to 8-3 and tied for third-place in the Big 8 Conference with an 84-40 win over Cosumnes River College last Friday night. The Lady Wolverines struggled in the first quarter, despite leading 17-11, but went on a 26-0 run to start the second quarter led by freshman and Granite Bay High alumna Julianne Cotterill with 13 points and Alyssa Premo with 12 points in the first half. Cotterill finished the game with 15 points and 14 rebounds while Premo had 22 points and 13 rebounds. "We're not the biggest team out there and for us to compete in our conference, you have to be able to control the boards," Wolverines coach Brandie Murrish said. "We definitely have to work hard for great position." Sierra College only has one sophomore on the team and she didn't even play for the Wolverines last season. Christiane Carlisle is a Colfax High alumna who played her freshman season at Azusa Pacific University. Carlisle has been one of the top players for the Wolverines as a sophomore, averaging more than 15 points per game, and totaled five three-pointers en route to a 25-point performance last Friday night. Carlisle also had 10 rebounds, along with nine assists in the contest. "I feel like since I've been through it, I kind of know what it takes to be great at this level, so I'm just helping my teammates and trying my best to keep them positive," Carlisle said. "I feel like we're all so close and are always looking for each other. We really have great chemistry and know where we are out there on the court." The Wolverines also had solid production from others such as Placer High alumna Sandy Dell with 10 points, Antelope High alumna Julianna Chavez with eight points and Del Oro High alumna Sarah Reuter with 11 rebounds. Sierra College faces Sacramento City College at home on Friday night. "I think we have been very process-driven as far as having a young team and just wanting to get better with each game," Murrish said. Men's basketball The Wolverines men's basketball team entered last Friday's game against Cosumnes River College in seventh-place in the Big 8 Conference while the Hawks were first at 8-2. Sierra College took the Hawks down to the wire but fell 66-62. After trailing 23-11 after the first 10 minutes, the Wolverines fought back and only trailed 35-34 at halftime as freshman and Placer High alumnus Jackson Lee scored seven points off the bench. "It's the same thing he has been doing most of the year," Wolverines coach John Fusano said. "He can really defend, penetrate and he's smart, tough and savvy. He is just really fun to coach." The Wolverines went on an 11-4 run early in the second half and took the lead with 14 minutes remaining. Sierra College kept the lead until 1:14 remaining and the Hawks made it a four-point game with 10 seconds remaining, despite a controversial no-call on a potential shot clock violation. Sophomore Isaiah Duve stepped up in the second half offensively and finished with 17 points while Tamatoa Humbert had 11. "This is the same fight we have had all year and this group has as much heart as any group I have ever coached," Fusano said. "Even though we are 10-13, we are centimeters from having 14 or 15 wins. I just feel bad and blame myself because we didn't run a good press break." Sierra College will face Sacramento City College at home on Friday night.