It doesn’t get any easier for Gavilan, and it’s not just the
opponents.
Gilroy – It doesn’t get any easier for Gavilan, and it’s not just the opponents.
One game after losing Eric Van Vliet to injury, Django Evans turned his ankle leaving the Rams without their center and point guard.
Hartnell was a difficult enough matchup but with a depleted Rams’ squad, the Panthers pulled away late for a 76-55 Coast Conference win Friday at Bud Ottmar Memorial Gym.
“They’re a great foul-shooting team,” Gavilan coach Tito Addison said of Hartnell, which has won five straight. “We had a poor shooting game and that hurt.”
Only Jessie LoBue was able to score with any consistency for the Rams (4-13). LoBue had a game-high 24 points and also pulled down 16 rebounds and had three steals. Nobody else was in double figures for Gavilan. Ben Chambliss had nine points and six rebounds.
E.J. Petty helped Hartnell (15-6) get off to a fast start with 14 of his team-high 21 points. Gavilan stayed within striking distance of the Panthers until a long trey by J.J. Holt gave Hartnell a 42-30 lead.
The Rams cut it to nine with seven minutes left and had the ball. But in what amounted to a five-point swing, Gavilan turned the ball over and Hartnell hit a three-point play.
The Panthers, which shot 16-of-18 at the line, had a good scoring balance with four players in double figures. Holt scored all 13 of his points in the first half. Brock Beck had nine of his 11 in the second half. Jordan Kilgore finished with 10 points.
Gavilan has lost four straight since stunning City College of San Francisco.
“The effort is there, but they’re somewhat disappointed in the outcomes,” Addison said, “not only in the games but the situational plays. We have to find a way to push through this.
“We’ve got to get that first (conference) win. We’re not looking to get three, four in a row. We need to get the first one and find any type of momentum.”
The Rams host Monterey Peninsula College at 7pm Wednesday in a non-conference contest.
Hartnell (76)-Holt 13, Christensen 7, Beck 11, Jacobson 0, Romney 5, Warner 5, Petty 21, Kilgore 10, Nelson 2. Totals 26 16-18 76.
Gavilan (55)-Blake 2, Chambliss 9, Evans 2, Jones 4, Hills 2, Murrell 3, Wortham 5, Hassan 0, LoBue 24, McLaurin 3. Totals 19 12-19 55.
Halftime: Hartnell 42-30.
3-point shots: Hart, Holt 3, Beck, Romney, Petty. Gav, Chambliss, Murrell, LoBue.
