Coach Brian Tessler has he Lady Rams rolling after a 69-29 rout of Taft College Cougars Jan. 21. The Lady Rams dominated Taft in all aspects of the game forcing turnovers, shots, and fouls.
The win gave the Rams their twenty first win of the season totaling a record of 21-6; 3-0 in league with seven more to go before the playoffs. In a first place tie for the Central Valley Conference, the Lady Rams have their eyes set on another state playoff berth. Not every game will be as easy for the Lady Rams as with Taft; they have two tough games coming up against Porterville and Merced College, who they are currently tied with for the lead spot in the conference.
The Rams scored more points in one half than the Cougars did all game. With four players scoring double figures, the Rams made easy work of Taft. With the Ram’s up-tempo offense, they kept the short- handed Cougars on their heels all game. The Rams defense was in full force, only allowing the Cougars 22.4 percent shooting as a team; and out- rebounding the Cougars by 32.
The Cougars (6-15 0-3), who trailed the entire game, lagged by a score of twenty or more points for the remainder of the second half. With only six players total, Taft was overpowered by the Rams, committing twenty one fouls, ten in the first half, more than the Lady Rams committed the entire game.
The Ram’s offense played keep away from the Cougars for the majority of the game, holding the ball during the time on the shot clock, and passing the ball more than five times before taking a shot.
Coach Brian Tessler in his second year of being the head coach at FCC is close to making his goal for the Lady Rams basketball program, which is to make the State Playoffs. The Lady Rams made it to the semifinal round last year and are projected to get a high seed for this year’s playoffs.
“This is assuming we don’t fall apart in our remaining seven league games,” said Tessler. After acting as an instructor and coach at Reedley College for ten years, Tessler made his move to FCC when the position became available on a full-time basis.
“It made sense to try and get the job,” said Tessler, “I was already living in Fresno, and most of the players I recruited to Reedley College were also from Fresno.”
“I’ve been pleased with our team this year. We suffered though some early adversity, only to come away much better for it,” said Tessler. “We have ten players who stick together and are all very focused on achieving our goal of getting to the State Tournament.”
The Lady Rams have three games coming up at home on February 4, 7, and the 21. Fans should try to make it out one if they have the chance.
