By MICHAEL COIT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Santa Rosa Junior College’s basketball teams enter the final stretch of league games seeking momentum for the state playoffs.

The teams host Diablo Valley for a doubleheader Tuesday in Big 8 Conference play. The women tip off at 5:30 p.m. with the men to follow at 7:30 p.m. The conference finale for both teams is back in Santa Rosa against Cosumnes River on Feb. 21.

Santa Rosa’s men have won six in a row since losing at Diablo Valley. The Bear Cubs lead the Big 8 at 10-2 with a 17-8 overall record.

Ranked No. 19 in the state and tenth in Northern California, the Santa Rosa men are led by scorers Alec Kobre (Montgomery high) and Matt Hayes (Elk Grove), top rebounder Corey Hammell (Cardinal Newman), and point guard Davone Olive (Oakland).

On the women’s side, Santa Rosa is in second place with a shot at winning the Big 8. The Bear Cubs are 17-9 overall and 9-2 in league play.

Despite dropping four places in the state rankings Santa Rosa is still high at No. 10 and third in Northern California.

Leading scorer Gretchen Harrigan (Casa Grande) tops the conference in points per game and is fourth in rebounding in the Big 8. Stephanie Sack (Casa Grande) leads the conference in assists, as well as third on Santa Rosa in scoring and second in rebounds. Madison Sowards (Maria Carrillo) also scores in double digits and joins Erin Skinner (Rancho Cotate) and Alicia Mehtlan (Willits) to give Santa Rosa an athletic, strong squad across the floor.

The California Community College Athletic Association playoffs open Feb. 26.