Basketball 2003-2004 Recaps

TROJANS END SEASON WITH A WIN

Feb. 20th

SKYLINE 88, CHABOT 83

What was a difficult season for head coach Tony Rafetto and the Skyline College Men's Basketball team came to an end Friday with an impressive 88-83 road win over playoff bound Chabot College (17-9, 4-5). Daniel Robinson's career high 27 points lead the Trojans who had four players scoring in double figures, including R.J McCuller who had 20, Craig William and Sal Vance who chipped in 14 and 13 respectively. The Trojans finish the season 3-7 in the Coast Conference and 6-18 overall.

SKYLINE'S LAST HOME GAME FOR A WHILE ENDS WITH CLOSE DEFEAT

Feb. 18th

De Anza 72, Skyline 70

Next season Skyline's main gymnasium will be undergoing a facelift so the Men's Basketball team will be playing all their home games at College of San Mateo next season. The Trojans may be ready for a change after a last second basket gave visiting De Anza College(7-17, 2-7) a 72-20 victory and dropped the Trojans home record to 2-9 on the season. Sal Vance had 21 points on 7 of 10 shooting and R.J McCuller continued to shoot well from 3 point range as he hit 4 triples on his way to 16 points. Skyline travels to Chabot Friday, Feb. 20th in what will be their final regular season game.

McCULLERS'S 32 CAN'T LEAD SKYLINE PAST CCSF

Feb 13th

Skyline 67, City College San Francisco 70

R.J McCuller drilled 6 three pointers and was 8 of 10 from the line on his way to a career high 32 points but, it was not enough as CCSF(21-6, 6-2) held on for a 67-70 victory. Sal Vance chipped in 11 and John Dupont lead the team with 5 assists. The Trojans next host De Anza College Wednesday at 7pm.

SKYLINE TURNS OVER ROAD GAME TO OHLONE

Feb. 6th

SKYLINE 66, OHLONE 79

Despite a season high 24 points from R.J McCuller and Jason Vance's 9th double-double of the season the Trojans turned the ball over too much stop Ohlone College(21-1, 7-0), the states #4 ranked team. McCuller was 6-10 from 3 point range and 8 of 14 from the field and helped the Trojans keep it close in the second half. Although the Trojans shot a better percentage from the floor 49%-44% and from beyond the 3 point arch, 40%-26% the 31 turnovers committed by Skyline(5-15, 2-4) sealed their fate. Skyline next hosts Foothill College, Wednesday, February 11th at 7pm.

SKYLINE FALLS IN OVERTIME TO CHABOT

JAN 30th

CHABOT 98, SKYLINE 93, OT

The Skyline Men's Basketball team dropped an overtime affair Friday night when they traveled to Chabot College in Hayward. The Trojans lead at the half by 5, paced by ce who had 23 points and 10 rebounds. RJ. McCuller lead the Trojans with 24 points and he also collected 7 rebounds and had 3 assists. Matt Mitchell lead the team in assists with 12, and also chipped in 13 points. Craig Williams scored a season high 19 as the fourth Trojans to score in double figures, but it was not enough as Chabot (15-7, 2-3) was able to pull away in overtime. Skyline next hosts CSU Monterey Bay JV's Tuesday night the 4th of Feb. @ 7pm.

SKYLINE PICKS UP ROAD WIN AT DE ANZA

Jan 28th.

SKYLINE 70, DE ANZA 61

The Skyline Men's Basketball team picked up a road win to even their league record at 2-2 with a 70-61 win at De Anza College. Jason Vance scored a season high 24 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the Trojans in both categories. R.J McCuller added 13 to go along with 3 assists and Craig Williams also scored in double figures with 11. Matt Mitchell had 9 assists to lead the team. The Trojans next face Chabot College, Jan 30th at Skyline, tip time is 7pm.

TROJANS BATTLE BUT FALL TO CITY

Jan 23rd.

SAN FRANCISCO CITY COLLEGE 82, SKYLINE 72

Skyline trailed by as many as 21 points in the first half to visiting San Francisco City College(17-3, 2-0) but, pulled to within just 3 with twelve minutes remaing and kept the score close until the closing minutes before falling 82-72 Friday night. R.J McCuller's 19 lead three Trojans in double figure scoring, Jason Vance had 16 and Markel Abram added 10. Vance also grabbed 10 boards and Matt Mitchell had 9 assists to lead the team.The Trojans next travel to De Anza College in Cupertino Wednesday, January 28th, game time is 7:00pm.

SKYLINE GETS FIRST CONFERENCE WIN

Jan 21st

SKYLINE 80, FOOTHILL 57

In their second Coast Conference North game the Trojans traveled to Foothill college and came away with a 80-57 win. Markel Abram lead the team with 20 points on 8 of 14 shooting while three other Trojans finished in double digit scoring including Sal Vance's 19 points, Daniel Robinson's 10 and R.J McCuller who had 16 and continued his hot shooting from beyond the 3 point line. Matt Mitchell lead the team with 9 assists to go along with his 8 points and Vance cleaned up on the glass wth 10 rebounds. The Trojans next host City College Of San Francisco on Friday night January 23rd at 7:00pm.

TROJANS RUN INTO HOT OHLONE IN CONFERENCE OPENER

Jan 16th.

OHLONE 77, SKYLINE 55

The Skyline Men's Basketball team has been showing signs of life over the past few games, quality non-conference wins over Hartnell (70-55) and Monterey Peninsula (73-61) had the Trojans(3-11, 0-1) on there first winning streak of the season and going into Friday nights Coast Conference North tip against visiting Ohlone College of Fremont(16-1, 1-0) the 5th ranked team in the state. Hoping to extend the home winning streak to three games the Trojans came out struggling to score and found themselves quickly down 17-5 after 5 minutes had gone by the the first. R.J McCuller rescued the Trojans with a scoring outburst in the final ten minutes of the half and Skyline managed to pull back to within five points with two minutes remaining in the half. Trailing by nine at half thanks to a half time buzzer beating three by Ohlone the Trojans never got back into the game and fell by the final score of 77-55. The Trojans next travel to Foothill College in Los Altos Jan 21st at 5:30pm.

SKYLINE FALLS AT HOME TO WEST VALLEY 62-52

Dec. 13th

WEST VALLEY 62, SKYLINE 52

The combination of a tough West Valley zone defense and a cold shooting game sent Skyline Men's Basketball team to its 8th loss of the season. Matt Mitchell lead the Trojans with 20 points and was 5 of 11 from 3 point range but the rest of the Trojans went 4 of 16 from beyond the arc. Sal Vance added 13 points and 8 rebounds, he was also a perfect 5 for 5 from the free throw line. Skyline was held to a season low 52 points after shooting only 36% for the game, going 17 of 47 from the field while being out rebounded 30-26. Skyline next travels to Columbia College in Sonora, Ca, Saturday the 20th for a 7pm tip.

TROJANS GET FIRST WIN IN OVERTIME

Dec. 11th

Skyline 82, Gavilan 77, OT

Eight games into the 03-04 season the Skyline College Men's Basketball team finally pulled out a victory with a 82-77 overtime win on the road. Sal Vance had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds and R.J McCuller poured in a game high 17 points on 7 of 14 shooting to lead the Trojans. Matt Mitchell handed out 11 assists to go with 8 points and Rejean Threadgill just missed a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. The Trojans try for two in a row this Saturday at Skyline when West Valley visits at 3pm.

TROJANS STILL LOOKING FOR WIN

Dec. 5th & 6th

Merritt College 96, Skyline 89

Skyline College Men's Basketball team hosted the 23rd Annual Skyline College Classic this weekend and like a true host they let their guests have the run of the house. Skyline fell 96-89 in it's first round game versus Merritt College, and dropped their second game to Porterville 67-61. Matt Mitchell paced the Trojans in their first game with a season high 31 points, converting 15 of 19 of his chances from the foul line, he also dished out 6 assists. Sal Vance chipped in 15 points and pulled down 8 rebounds in the loss. R.J McCuller added 10 points hitting 2 of 3 from beyond the three point line.

Porterville 67, Skyline 61

Against Porterville Sal Vance dropped in 18 points on 8 of 18 shooting and had 9 rebounds to lead the Trojans. Matt Mitchell had another strong game with 16 points and 8 assists. The two losses drop the Trojans to 0-7 on the season. Skyline looks for its' first win of the season Thursday the 11th of December when they travel to Gavilan College in Gilroy.

SKYLINE COMES UP SHORT IN TWO GAMES AT DVC TOURNAMENT

Nov. 28-29th

Skyline 65, Cosumnes River 69

Looking for their first win of the season the Skyline (0-4) took to the road last weekend to participate in the Diablo Valley College Tournament. In their opening round game the Trojans fell behind early against Cosumnes River (3-3) and headed into halftime down by eleven. Early in the second half the Trojans found themselves down by fifteen before starting what would be a tremendous comeback effort. With just under two minutes remaining Skyline fought back to within one, paced by leading scorer Jordan Webster's fifteen points and four assists and Sal Vances's third double-double (12/10) in as many games. The Trojan comeback was halted in the final minute when Consumes hit a desperation three with just ten seconds left on the clock.

Skyline 73, Butte 75

Skyline (0-5) once again found themselves down early to Butte College (2-4) and in the second half battled back only to come up just short in the second round of the Diablo Valley Tournament. Trailing by eleven at the half and down 49-31 with fourteen minutes remaining in the game, the Trojans, behind the play of Matt Mitchell, who tied his season highs with eighteen points and eight assists, took a four point lead with three minutes remaining. Skyline was unable to hold the lead or grab any key rebounds down the stretch and fell for the fifth time this season 73-75.

SLOW START CONTINUES AS SKYLINE FALLS 71-64

Nov. 22

ALAMEDA 71, SKYLINE 64

Despite Sal Vance's second consecutive double-double of the season the Trojans dropped their third straight game Saturday night to College of Alameda 71-64. Vance dropped in 22 points and added 20 rebounds as he continued to shine for Skyline, who through it's first three games have yet to put together a complete game. Skyline took a seven point lead to the half behind the play of Vance and Matt Mitchell's seven assists. Reggie McCuller had 13 to score in double figures for the second consecutive game, but it was not enough as Alameda outscored Skyline by fourteen in the second half to seal the victory. Skyline looks for it's first victory of the season this week at the Diablo Valley Tournament when it takes on Cosumnes River College Friday the 28th @ 2pm.

TROJANS FALLS 73-82 IN OT TO SSJC

Nov. 20th

SAN JOSE CITY COLLEGE 82, SKYLINE 73

The Skyline College (0-2) took visiting San Jose City College (1-0) to overtime before losing by nine points Thursday night. Trailing by seven at the half, Skyline, paced by Sal Vance's 22 points and 13 rebounds, played a solid second half, even taking the lead by five midway through the period. The Trojans then had trouble holding on to the ball and the lead as several key turnovers late in the game allowed San Jose to tie the score late. In the overtime Skyline continued to turn the bal over and San Jose capitalized on the Trojan's mistakes, outscoring Skyline 13-4 in the overtime. The Trojans next travel to College of Alameda Saturday the 22nd at 7pm.

SKYLINE OPENS WITH 60-74 LOSS TO SANTA ROSA

Nov. 12th

SANTA ROSE 74, SKYLINE 60

The Skyline College Men's Basketball team began the 2003-2004 season on the road against Santa Rosa Junior College (1-0), one of the top ranked teams in the state of California. Paced by leading scorers Markel Abram and Matt Mitchell, who each dropped in 18 points in their debut as Trojans, Skyline was able to control the tempo for much of the first half and that translated into four point halftime lead. After giving up only 27 points in the first half the Trojans were not able to keep Santa Rosa away from the basket in the second, surrendering 47 points and the lead midway through the second. Abram also lead the Trojans with 5 rebounds and Mitchell dished out 4 assists, but it was not enough as the Trojans ended up on the short end of the 60-74 score. Skyline next hosts San Jose City College, Thursday the 20th at 7pm.