Yuba men dominating conference

The Yuba College men’s basketball team is in midst of their best season ever with an overall record of 19-10 and a conference record of 9-3.

The 49ers can clinch the Bay Valley Conference title with a win over Napa Valley on Friday, but that will prove to be a tough test for the injury plagued 49ers. The 49ers top freshman, Lawrence Wright is out with a broken hand, while sophomore sensation Kenny Smith is out with a sprained ankle.

Smith, who should be resting his injury, has played big minutes for the 49ers despite the injuries. Smith scored 14 points in a win over American River and had 19 points in a losing effort against Cosumnes College.

Smith was not slated to play in the game against Cosumnes, but with the lack of energy the 49ers were producing, Smith stepped up in the second half. He scored all 19 of his points in the second half.

“We needed him (Smith) to play and he was willing to play and he played great,” said coach Doug Cornelius.

With a 58-47 win over American River on February 14, the 49ers clinched at least a share of the conference title.

Others doing well for the 49ers this year are Brett Ost and Matt Otten. Both are returning players and are putting up big numbers. Otten has posed a big post threat, while Ost has controlled the tempo of the game with his point guard skills.Yuba women struggling he Yuba College women’s basketball team is struggling in the Bay Valley Conference, posting a 3-8 mark. The 49ers overall record currently stands at 12-18.

In the previous game, the 49ers got 22 points from Erin Cunningham, but fell to Cosumnes, 85-58.”Their (Cosumnes) defense was too quick and we had no answer for it,” said coach Dave Parsh.

Parsh, in his first year as 49er coach, has gone through a lot. With a small team and no really big post threat, his team has had to settle for the perimeter shots.

Leading the way has been Cunningham, who starts at the point guard position and Sarah Webster. Webster is the starting forward and is the team’s leading scorer.

In the game prior to the loss at Cosumnes, the 49ers fell to a tough and gritty American River team, 62-52.

Cunningham once again led the team in scoring with 13 points, while Webster and Crystal Haymore each contributed 12.

The 49ers played an excellent defensive game and led by 12 in the first half, but let the lead slip away allowing American River to capitalize and take control of the game. The 49ers play Napa Valley on Friday and the playoffs look to be out of the picture.