College basketball | CR’s season ends after Alameda upsets the Corsairs 76-74

The College of the Redwoods mens basketball season came to a heartbreaking end Wednesday night, with the No.

9 seeded Corsairs falling to No.

24 seeded College of Alameda 76-74 after coming up just short of a game-tying bucket on the final possession of the game.That had all the trimmings of what a junior college playoff basketball game hopefully looks like, Corsairs head coach Ryan Bisio said.

Two teams just neck-and-neck competing with a lot of integrity, there was a lot of skill on the floor tonight and a lot of drama.While fans were energized for Wednesdays playoff game, Alamedas head coach brought a lot of attention to the game, with basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton leading the Cougars to the playoffs in his first season with the team.I really appreciate the community support in such a big game, even if the opposing coach was the reason some people came to the game, Bisio said of Payton.

I admire how his team is such an honest reflection of the way he was as a player.Alameda head coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton showed the same passion as a coach that he did as a player.

Alameda was the lowest-ranked school in the NorCal playoffs.

(Dylan McNeill/Times-Standard)Things got off to a rough start for Payton and Alameda with the Corsairs jumping out to an early 7-0 lead thanks to CR sophomore Mason Mottashed knocking down a three and then finding freshman Alfonso Medina backdoor for a layup and sophomore Brandon Lucas slicing through the defense for another layup.Alameda didnt flinch, answering immediately with a 7-0 run of their own to tie the game and showing the Corsairs just how difficult to guard they are.

Alamedas isolation-style of offense, paired with quickness and shot-making ability gave CR defenders fits all night.

Alameda took their first lead of the night midway through the first half and would hold onto it through halftime, leading 38-36 at the break.Theyre just exquisite in their shooting.

Theyre the first team weve ever played that forced us to go small, Bisio said.

Theyre really hard to defend.The Cougars came out firing in the second half, quickly pushing their lead to 10 points, but CR refused to let the game get out of hand, answering back and tying the game back up at 53-53 after a Mottashed three.Mottashed and a few other Corsairs battled with cramps in the second half, the first time thats been an issue for the team all season.After CR battled back from the deficit, Alameda built up another lead, holding an eight-point lead with just 3:40 to play.

An and-one by freshman Ty Dahlin and a three by sophomore Brandon Lucas got CR within four.The Corsairs offense flowed through Dahlin in the post down the stretch as Alameda didnt have an answer for his size and playmaking.

Dahlin had some breaks go against him, with an unfortunate kicked ball violation and double-dribble that gave the Cougars two extra possessions.Hes a remarkable player, who I hope learned a lot from his experiences this season and this game in particular, Bisio said of Dahlin.

Hes such a competitor, I know hes going to beat himself up over this but we wouldnt even be in this game if it wasnt for him.Corsairs sophomore guard Mason Mottashed speaks with freshman forward Ty Dahlin during the Corsairs loss Wednesday to Alameda.

Mottashed was battling cramps during the second half on Wednesday.

(Dylan McNeill/Times-Standard)Even with the mishaps, CR had the ball, down two with 40 seconds to play but a corner three by Lucas didnt fall, forcing the Corsairs to foul.

Alameda missed the free throw but CR couldnt bring in the defensive rebound, giving Alameda another chance.The extra chance didnt amount to much as the Cougars missed another free throw, giving the Corsairs one last chance to tie the game.

Dahlin got the ball at the top of the key and worked his way down low, his first layup attempt was no good.

He got the offensive rebound but missed the tip-in, Dahlin tried one last tip but it was off and the Corsairs season ended in an excruciating fashion.As disappointed as we are, and our fanbase are with the outcome of the game, thats what you want a junior college playoff game to look like, Bisio said.

I think we gave the fans a treat tonight.The loss ends the Corsairs season at 21-8 and is the first first-round exit for CR since Bisio took over as head coach in 2019.A nightmare matchup for us, Bisio said of Alameda.

Weve been beneficiaries of being nightmare matchups for other people.

We really got a taste of our own medicine tonight.Dylan McNeill can be reached at 707-441-0526..

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