Men's Basketball Rolls Into the Post-Season
By: Ryan Gibson
Aaron Johnson (left) high fives his teammates. Coach Jeff Klein (right) watching the play.
The Panthers are coming off a 17-game winning streak led by Darren Williams, Emmanuel "Manu" Kehasson Oulai and Aaron Johnson.
On Friday, Feb. 21, Chaffey College’s Men’s Basketball hosted Victor Valley for their last match-up of the regular season. The Panthers went into the match up boasting an overall record of 22-5 all while averaging 79.2 points per game. Led by Sophomore Guard, Emmanuel “Manu” Kehasson Oulai, Sophomore Point Guard Darren Williams, and Sophomore Forward Aaron Johnson.
Victor Valley managed only one lead throughout the game in the early minutes to go up 18-16. Chaffey would immediately tie the game and the rest is history. It wasn’t long before Chaffey’s Darren Williams hit his second three-pointer of the night to put the Panthers up 21-18. The Panthers put the score at 33-19 going into halftime with a 14-point lead. Any hope Victor Valley had, was gone by the second half. The Panthers went on to win by a score of 82-59.
“That’s been all year,” Panthers’ Head Coach, Jeff Klein, explained. “Games have been close, then right before half time we start pulling away and in the second half we just seem to [not let up.]” After Wednesday’s rout over the College of the Desert (87-55) along with Friday's win over Victor Valley, Klein assures “[we’re] definitely not overconfident, but we’re a confident group.”
“What we try to emphasize is, not so much [what the opponent is doing,] it’s what we’re going to do,” explained Klein regarding the team’s mindset going into playoffs. “We take nothing for granted, [especially] over these next two weeks. We want to win these next two [games] to make it the state championships, like we did last year.”
Last season, the Panthers were knocked out of the CCCAA State Quarterfinals by a score of 68-56. Klein credits the maturity of this years team to the leadership that the team’s three returning players bring out on the court.
“They’re just so good in the locker room. They love their teammates, they help their teammates,” said Klein. “They’re all very selfless, they’re great in the classroom, they’re great role models, so for me, at this level to coach three guys like Aaron Johnson, Darren Williams and Manu is just such a pleasure.”
“Darren Williams is great. I’m sorry that people don’t see that, but [he’s just a great player.]" said Oulai. "I’ve played with a lot of guards, but this guy is just too good.” Williams is 5’8” but leads the team with 17.2 points per game while still tallying just under six assists per game. In Friday’s match-up, Williams had 11 assists.
Manu is the leading rebounder in the state of California, averaging 12.6 boards a game alongside 16.1 points per game on 52.7% shooting. As a freshman, Oulai led the team in points and rebounds earning him a spot on the CCCAA All-State team.
“[Last year] we weren’t shooting [well.] Right now, we are shooting at an elite level” said Oulai. “Right now, we’re averaging fifteen [three point shots] per game. It’s hard for people to guard us man to man, but now that [we’re shooting well] it opens everything. The game [is] easier for us because we shoot better.”
“It’s a lot of work,” said Manu when asked about the team’s improvement. “We were the first team starting the season and we’ll be the last team finishing the season.” The Panthers are coming off of a 17 game winning streak entering this Wednesday's playoff game.
“We want the State Championship, we don’t want [anything less.]” Manu explained heading into playoffs. “And [we’ll] keep working. Right now we have a week to prepare against anybody that we [are] going to play against. We’ll be ready. We’re locked in.” The Panthers will play against Irvine Valley College on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Chaffey College for their first matchup of the 2020 post-season.