REEDLEY – After winning one of the lowest scoring games of the week to end the regular season, the Reedley College Tiger football team awaits its next opponent. No announcement had been made as of midday on Nov. 13.
The conference champion Modesto Junior College Pirates and the second place Fresno City College Rams advance to the state playoffs while the 7-3 Tigers await a spot in one of six Nor Cal bowl games.
Reedley improved to 7-3 with a 17-10 win over Sacramento City on Nov. 11 at Reedley High’s Sal Gonzalez Field. It was the final regular season home game for 30 Tiger sophomores, who were introduced by public address announcer Mark Givens before the game.
Sacramento opened the scoring late in the opening quarter on a 43-yard field goal on the Panthers’ first possession. Reedley answered with a march that led to a game-tying 33-yard field goal by Jayden Evangelho.
The biggest play of the first half came on a touchdown by little-used Erik Cervantes on his fifth run of the season. Cervantes scored on a 26-yard run. Sacramento tied the contest on a 45-yard pass play with 36 seconds left in the first half.
The go-ahead touchdown came midway in the third quarter on a 22-yard pass play to DJ Stevenson to Nick Osho (who led the Tigers in rushing with 92 yards on 21 carries).
The Panthers had the only score in the fourth quarter; a 23-yard field goal by Alejandro Lopez with just under five minutes remaining. Reedley turned away any further scoring threats to capture the victory.
The Tigers finished with a 320-239 advantage in total yards, and overcame two lost fumbles while intercepting a pass.
Women’s basketball jumps to 5-1 start
Quick, name the Reedley College athletic team with the best overall record, as of Nov. 12.
Try Coach Dan Kilbert and the Lady Tiger basketball team, which improved to 5-1 overall with a 60-52 win over Sacramento City College on Nov. 11 at Paul Mitchell Court in Reedley’s home debut.
It was the first chance for local fans to watch freshman Letocha Marigney, who has been in double figures in both scoring and rebounding in every Tiger game this season. The latest stats for the 6-3 freshman from Fresno ‘s Roosevelt High School were 15 points and 16 rebounds against Sac City.
The Lady Tigers are back in action Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. in San Diego as they face San Diego City in the Knights Invitational. Reedley is scheduled to face Southwestern and San Bernardino Valley in the tournament before a contest at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 with Imperial Valley. Reedley hosts Allan Hancock at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
In other action last week, the Tigers fell in San Bruno 60-52 on Nov. 7 despite 10 points and 21 rebounds by Marigney before cruising to an 82-49 win over Napa Valley the next day. Reedley outscored Napa 23-5 in the final quarter after jumping out to a 26-14 first quarter lead.
Against Sac City, Kilnert was pleased with the Tigers defense. “We have players that can score, compete and play hard.” About Marigney, the coach said: “She is just starting, she is just going to get better and better.”
Women’s soccer posts shutout, preps for postseason
Reedley College finished the women’s soccer regular season with a 4-0 win over Madeia in Reedley on Nov. 10. The win improved the Tigers to 9-6-1 in conference action (good for third place) and 12-7-1 overall.
“It was a good balanced team performance,” head coach Onesta Francis reported. “Four goals, four different goal scorers. The team came out really fired up on Sophomore Night. Captains combined for the first goal five minutes into the game.
“There was a goal by Diana Rico (Dinuba High), assisted by (Nazira) Nunez on a perfectly placed cross to the near post after a nice throw from Jessica Batres. Madera played with heart and kept it close,” Francis added.
Francis said goalkeeper Areal Galvan (Reedley) made a big-time save on a shot at close range to preserve the 1-0 lead. Dinuba High product Krysta Casas scored on a looping header off of a cross from Jennifer Martinez.
“The game got feisty with each team, hitting multiple yellow cards. We were able to keep our composure and score with two free kicks by Nunez and Martinez,” Francis said. The coach added that Jolene Tamariz controlled the infield with 12 ball recoveries and Jessica Batres held down the back line with 11 ball recoveries and seven headers. Goalkeeper Natalie Duran came on in the second half and kept a clean sheet.
A playoff schedule had not been announced, as of press time.
Volleyball closes out campaign with pair of losses
Reedley College finished its volleyball 2023 season with two losses.
Coach Mariah Roby-Stewart’s squad dropped a 3-0 decision on Nov. 8 to Porterville by set scores of 25-13, 26-22 and 22-19. Two nights later, they lost by scores of 25-20, 25-13, 24-26 and 25-17 to Taft College. No statistics were available.
Five Tigers were honored before the Porterville match as sophomores playing their final match at Paul Mitchell Court. They are Hannah Christensen, Dakota Vermilya, Haley Thomas, Nadja Rosenfeld, Erica Hafkey and Bianka Hernandez.
Reedley finished in a three-way tie for seventh place in the nine-team Central Valley Conference with a 2-14 record. Reedley was 3-18 overall.
In another sport, Vermilya was named to the California All-Academic team. She is one of 21 state student-athletes in basketball to finish with a 4.0 grade point average.
