Maybe Next Year

The Corsairs tied the game at 26 late in the first period and went into the lockers at half time with a seven point lead. They held on to that lead for the first six and a half minutes of the second period. Then Bakersfield outscored SMC 43-28 in the second period for a 78-70 come from behind victory in the Pavilion at SMC

Well, maybe next year.

Bakersfield jumped to an early lead and with 11:32 left on the clock the score was 15 to 11 in their favor. With a couple three pointers complements of Messieurs Arnette Hollis and Kris Mehdipour and turnovers by our guests, the score was tied at 19 points apiece with 8:57 to go in the first period.

Then Bakersfield regained the advantage and led by as many as five points. With 5:53 left to play in the first period, the Corsairs tied the game again with 26 points each. At the end of the first period the Corsairs appeared to be in the rocking chair going into the half with a nice seven point lead with a score of 42-35.

The opening of the second period looked like the end of the first. The two teams essentially exchanged baskets until, once again, Bakersfield regained the lead.

Bakersfield would not relinquish this lead again in the game. They would lead by as many as ten points for most of the rest of the period.

SMC mounted a valiant come-back and closed the gap to within four with just over three minutes left to play. The score was 68-64 at this point.

The come-back was to no avail because Bakersfield would score ten more points in the final three minutes compared to SMC's six to end the game with a score of 78-70. The Bakersfield Renegades get the "W."

Renegade Head Coach Rich Hughes credited his defense for the victory. "We played a little better defense in the second half. We gave up too many lay ups and wide open 'threes' in the first half. In the second half we changed up our defense a little bit," he said.

Coach Hughes said that SMC coach Jenkins "got them [Corsairs] playing hard. He just needs time. I'm sure that they are going to be one of the top teams in the conference again next year."

Indeed, maybe next year.