Fresno slips past Ohlone

FRESNO -- The Ohlone College men's basketball team gave quite an effort in the semifinals of the NorCal playoffs Saturday night, but the Renegades fell to Fresno City 64-62.

Fresno City pulled out a come-from-behind victory, just as it did the last time the teams played. The Rams trailed Ohlone by three points with five minutes left but managed to advance to the State Elite Eight that begins next week.

Chancious Rose led the Renegades with 12 points. James Hancock and Leon Hart added 10 points.

Ohlone trailed 36-32 at the half.

This young Ohlone team, which had only three sophomores on the roster -- and they saw little playing-time -- could return as many as 13 players, and this experience could go a long way.

The team's chemistry began to fall into place shortly after the month of December. Two days after Christmas, Ohlone was just two games over .500, but the Renegades finished the season 20-11.

''It starts with players understanding their roles and having faith in the staff and in what it takes to win," Ohlone coach John Peterson said. ''And also what it takes to move on, because that's the goal."

Ohlone had a chance to at least tie the game near the end but failed to get off a last-second shot. Ohlone had 27 turnovers in the game.

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