Griffin honored as Sierra building steam

The Sierra College women's basketball team won its fifth straight Big 8 Conference game Tuesday on the road at Modesto Junior College ahead of a tough stretch of games over the next 10 days. After a tied game at the half at Modesto, the Wolverines used a 27-16 third quarter to create a cushion on their way to a 74-67 win over the Pirates. Freshman forward Kiki Griffin (Pleasant Grove) recorded her 14th double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds to pace four Wolverines in double-figures. Jenna Duley (Del Oro) led the scoring with 17 points, Skyy Jackson (Granite Bay) had 16 with nine rebounds and Devon Lewis (Will C. Wood) added 13 points with seven rebounds, three assists, four steals and three blocks. Amara Allen (Del Campo) also posted eight points and seven assists to round out the Sierra starting five. Griffin was recently named the women's Big 8 Player of the Week after a pair of wins last week at American River College and at home against Cosumnes River. Griffin posted 13 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocks against the Beavers and 12 points, 16 boards, two assists and three steals against the Hawks. Griffin is second among Big 8 players in rebounds per game and within the top 20 in the state at 11.3 per night. Sierra, which is eighth in California averaging just over 14 steals per game, has the top-ranked San Joaquin Delta (21-1, 8-0 Big 8) and No. 7 Diablo Valley (17-3, 7-1 Big 8) on the immediate schedule. Entering Friday's game with the Mustangs, Sierra is 17-5 overall and in third place at 7-2 in the Big 8. The Wolverines are the No. 11 team in the state CCCSIA's latest rankings. MEN'S BASKETBALL After a rough start to the 2019–20 season, the Wolverine men have come together for a nice run in Big 8 play. With wins over Cosumnes Oaks last Friday and at Modesto Tuesday, Sierra has won three of its last four conference games to improve to 4-6 ahead of Friday's road contest at San Joaquin Delta, which is the next team ahead of the Wolverines in the Big 8 standings. Sierra outscored Modesto 34-24 in the first half and 49-42 in the second to blow past the Pirates 83-66. BASEBALL The Wolverine baseball team opened its 2020 home season by rolling with freshman shortstop Josh Rolling. Hitting in the No. 9 spot in the order, Rolling (Bishop Manogue-Nevada) went 4-for-6 with three homers and six RBIs, leading Sierra to a 17-1 victory over Lassen Thursday to even its record to 2-2 before Friday's meeting with Shasta. Sierra banged out 20 hits in its home debut. Kyle Williams (River Valley), Richard Meyers (Del Oro), Zack Jensen (Damonte Ranch-Nevada) and Chase Thatcher (Del Oro) each collected two hits for the Wolverines (2-2). Ryan Gil (Del Campo) tossed five scoreless innings with just three hits and three walks allowed while striking out four. Blake Rainey (Del Oro) and Devin Marton (Cleveland, Los Angeles) combined for three innings of scoreless relief.