The De Anza College Mountain Lions concluded their basketball season with a hard-fought performance, losing 94-81 to the Ohlone Renegades on Feb. 21 at Ohlone College.
Already eliminated from playoff contention, the Mountain Lions entered their final game of the season looking to finish on a high note. They sat in last place in the highly competitive Coast-North Conference — home to six of the top 30 ranked teams in the state. Their sole conference win this season came against the Renegades on Jan. 29.
De Anza’s energy propelled them to a competitive start, applying intense defensive pressure. Typically key role players, guards Elijah Denker (De Anza No. 2), 20, communications major, and A.J. Richards (De Anza No. 5), 19, business major, who earned his first starting nod of the season, stepped up with standout performances.
“We beat this team before,” Richards said. “Our plan was to hit them in the mouth.”
Denker led the team in scoring with 16 points, while Richards contributed nine rebounds and 14 points, 12 of which came in the first half.
“In the last game of the year, where you’re not really playing for anything, you need those guys. And that’s why we love those guys,” said De Anza head coach Joe Berticevich.
De Anza’s hustle was paying off, giving them a 36-33 lead with three minutes left in the first half. However, in those closing moments, Ohlone’s offense came alive.
A hook shot by forward Michael Fastion (Ohlone No. 15), 19, human development and communications major, gave him his first points and Ohlone went on a 14-2 run, capped off by a defensive rebound from guard Amos Hodgson (Ohlone No. 5). Hodgson hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game in transition to put Ohlone up 47-38 at halftime. Hodgson went 6-of-11 from 3-point range this game, leading all scorers with 27 points on 60% shooting.
In the second half, Ohlone continued to dismantle the De Anza press, outscoring them 34-17 in the first 15 minutes.
Forward Anthony Lacy (Ohlone No. 12), 19, business major, threw down a fast-break dunk that ignited the Ohlone crowd and secured their lead.
“(In the first half), our shooters were hitting … in the second half, they changed their defense from a zone to a man to a switch,” Fastion said. “You switch, we’re gonna cut, simple as that. You switch? Bad luck to you, we’re gonna probably dunk on you like my boy Ant (Anthony).”
“We got their press figured out, started moving the ball, playing in unison, finding the open man, playing unselfishly,” Lacy said. “I feel like that’s when we had the game sealed.”
With about a minute remaining, Berticevich emptied the bench, substituting out starter guard Justice Owens (De Anza No. 4), 21, business administration major, and forwards Theo McDowell (De Anza No. 24), 18, business marketing major, and Sean Crowley (De Anza No. 32), 20, business administration major. Ohlone secured the victory 94-81.
Three star Mountain Lions received post-season honors from the Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association. Owens was named to the First Team Coast-North, while McDowell and Crowley earned honorable mentions. McDowell was also selected to the Coast-North All Freshmen Team, a promising sign of the potential he brings into his sophomore season.
“That was the last game, and I can’t play with my teammates anymore, but I love the memories along the way. So it’s a sad but happy moment,” Owens said, who put up all 11 of his points in the second half.
“I love these guys, these guys are my family … I fought for these guys. We all did what we were supposed to do. We just couldn’t get the job done,” Richards said.
De Anza closed out their season ranked 72nd in winning percentage of the 100 3C2A teams. The team placed last in the Coast-North Conference, finishing the year with a 1-13 conference record and an overall record of 8-20 including preseason games.
Despite a tough season, Berticevich said he expects this young De Anza program to continue growing in the future
“This year was laying the foundation, and we’re just going to keep on grinding and getting better. I think you’re going to see that next year when we get playing,” Berticevich said. “To the guys that played in our first year, we’re very grateful — eternally grateful.”
“Even though it’s their first year as a program at De Anza, they have the feel of a team that’s been together for a long time,” Ohlone head coach Jordan Lee said. “They play really together. They don’t give up.”
The Renegades entered the playoffs as the No. 20 seed in the NorCal Regionals, with Fastion eager to make it past the first round. “That’s the goal, because for the two years that I’ve been here, we’ve actually never made it past the first round,” Fastion said. “I think that’s a team goal as well.”
The Renegades then lost 68-66 to the Contra Costa College Comets on Feb. 26, ending their playoff bid.
