UC Merced women competing ahead of schedule

Kevin Pham never forgets about the big picture.

Programs, particularly ones without scholarships, take time to nurture and build. The UC Merced women’s basketball coach has a vision for the future and has seen the Bobcats make steady progress in the program’s three years of existence.

It’s a tough road for any competitor to walk, balancing the desire to win now against the patience to know greener pastures lay ahead. Still, with UCM (7-6) entering California Pacific Conference play boasting a better-than-.500 record for the first time in school history, Pham can’t help but hope good things are coming sooner rather than later.

“We’re clicking at the right time,” Pham said. “The last few games we’ve been shooting well and holding teams to about 50 points per game. It took us a little while to learn what worked best with the personnel that we have. The first few games we tried a run-and-gun style that wasn’t very successful for us.

“We’ve found with this group we’re better off slowing the game down and really working the half-court sets on offense and defense.”

The Bobcats have taken to the switch, winning five of their last seven entering Cal Pac play, including the school’s first victory over a Division II school (Cal State Monterey Bay) and a one-point loss to NAIA Division I No. 11 Westmont.

All-time leading scorer Shelby Howard leads UCM with 14.4 points per game. It’s the junior’s lowest scoring average since she walked onto the campus, but that’s a good thing. The burden for the Bobcats’ success no longer rests almost entirely on her shoulders.

Sophomore guard Courtney Danna (10.5 ppg) and freshman guard Christina Castro (9.2 ppg) have proven themselves capable of shouldering the scoring load on any given night, and senior Alexis Wu (6.8 ppg) and sophomore center Brittany Martinez (6.2 ppg, 7.5 rebounds per game) have been consistent contributors. Freshman guard Allison Wisdom (Buhach Colony High School) is finding her stride, averaging 8.6 ppg over the last five games.

Favorite: Menlo (11-3)

The Oaks haven’t lost a Cal Pac game in two years and enter conference play ranked No. 13 in NAIA Division II.

Contenders: UC Merced (7-6), Cal Maritime (6-6)

The Bobcats were picked to finish second in the conference and will look to beat Menlo for the first time in school history.

The rest: La Sierra (4-9), Pacific Union (2-11), Simpson (1-16)

All three have struggled in nonconference play and are yielding at least 71 points per game. La Sierra does have the league’s top scorer in Tina Fantroy (17.5 ppg).

UC Merced men

John Sykes’ squad has limped through another brutal nonconference schedule, going 1-16 to open the season.

After taking on some of the best the NAIA has to offer, Sykes hopes the game will slow down for the Bobcats as they enter Cal Pac play.

Getting only nine games from injured junior center Ryan Edwards (15.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) has hurt an undersized Merced team. Still, some underclassmen have risen to the occasion. Freshmen guards Joshua Kimble (13.9 ppg) and Christian Chapman (6.6 ppg, 3.5 assists per game) and sophomore forward Daniel Pugh (9.6 ppg) have been particularly good.

The problem for Sykes’ squad has been the 94.3 ppg they have allowed.

Favorite: Cal Maritime (8-8)

The defending champ hasn’t been as dominant as in recent years but remains the team to beat.

Contenders: Simpson (8-11), Pacific Union (5-11)

They are the league’s top two scoring teams.

The rest: UC Merced (1-16), Menlo (1-13), La Sierra (0-13)

The conference isn’t particularly strong across the board and the Bobcats should be able to battle for a conference tourney spot, but defense will need to improve before any talk of a title run.

Merced College women

Allen Huddleston hasn’t experienced too many down years over the last decade, but an almost entirely new squad has struggled to find its bearings in the college game.

Consistent effort has been an issue as the Lady Devils closed nonconference play 2-11. Still, the group has potential, leaving Huddleston optimistic heading into Central Valley Conference play.

Freshman center Mele Tupouata (11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg) has been Huddleston’s rock, and a healthy Tekerra Borden (10.4 ppg) will be a huge boost in CVC play. Sophomore guard Nitoyra Bone has upped her scoring (7.4 ppg), but others need to step up with Merced averaging just 48.4 ppg.

Favorite: Fresno City (12-6)

The Rams already have more losses than they did all last season, but when you’ve won seven CVC titles in a row, you get the nod.

Contenders: Sequoias (15-3), West Hills (12-4)

Sequoias pushed Merced and Fresno last season and could be poised to dethrone the champ. West Hills has come a long way in just the program’s third year.

The rest: Reedley 8-8, Taft 6-8, Porterville 6-9, Merced 2-11

It looks like an up year for the CVC in general, so life won’t get any easier for Merced.

Merced College men

The Blue Devils (1-11) entered the season with lofty hopes and goals, but things haven’t come together on the court against a quality schedule.

Putting together a 40-minute contest has been an issue with the team either plagued by poor first halves or fading down the stretch. With the exception of defending champion Fresno City, the rest of the CVC hasn’t had great nonconference results, so perhaps things may start clicking.

At 64.8 ppg, Merced hasn’t been a bad offensive team. The trio of Deonta Woodard (17 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Rob Martinez (11.9 ppg) and Kendrick Sallis (9 ppg) has provided more than half of that average, but the Devils have been getting burned on the defensive end (76.8 ppg allowed).

Favorite: Fresno City (16-3)

The perennial power has a local flare with former Golden Valley and Merced High stars Evan Stillahn, Christian Carroll, Josh Sykes and Travante Richard contributing a combined 14.9 ppg for NorCal’s top-ranked team.

Contenders: Columbia (9-6), Sequoias (7-9), West Hills (6-11)

None look to have the firepower to dethrone the champ but won’t provide any opponent with an easy night, either.

The rest: Reedley (4-10), Porterville (3-11), Merced (1-11)

Talent-wise, Merced has the chops to be in the contender category. The Blue Devils need to sharpen defensively and find consistency in their overall play before they get there, however.

This story was originally published January 6, 2015 at 8:17 PM with the headline "UC Merced women competing ahead of schedule."