photo by Mike Daly
REDDING, Calif. – The Shasta College men's basketball team split last week in Golden Valley Conference play, beating Feather River 75-66 on Thursday before its rally fell short in a 73-69 loss to College of the Siskiyous on Saturday.
Freshman Michael Plunkitt led the Knights in scoring in both contests, dropping 15 points in the win over Feather River and 13 points against Siskiyous.
In the win over Feather River, Shasta shot 10 of 23 from 3-point range (44 percent), its fourth time of the season where the Knights had 10+ 3s in a game. Zach Thompson and Brendan Hoag each scored 14 points while Thompson and Corey Busta tied for the team-lead with five rebounds. Plunkitt added four steals and Hoag paced the Knights with four assists.
In the loss to Siskiyous on sophomore night, Shasta trailed for nearly the entire game until Thompson's and-1 three-point play tied it at 60 and took its first lead two possessions later on a pair of Elijah Ramirez free throws.
Despite Siskiyous answering with a 7-0 run, Shasta kept it close with a bucket from Plunkitt. Siskiyous buried a 3 for a four-point lead with 1:02 left, which turned out to be the dagger.
Shasta lone sophomore Tanner Guinn drained a 3 with 10 seconds left to give the Knights a last-chance miracle but Siskiyous split a pair of free throws to put the game out of reach.
Plunkitt had 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals and Hoag turned in 13 points. Guinn scored 12 points while Corey Busta added nine points and eight rebounds and Thompson pitched in with nine points.
Shasta honored Guinn on sophomore night for his final home game as a Knight.
Shasta is 4-5 in Golden Valley Conference play and 7-17 overall and wraps up the season with a road game against Lassen on Wednesday.
GVC Standings
Team GVC, Overall
Butte 7-1, 14-11
Lassen 4-3, 13-10
Feather River 5-4, 13-9
Shasta 5-4, 7-17
Siskiyous 4-5, 7-20
Redwoods 0-8, 0-24