Vikings courting success

Diablo Valley College men's basketball coach Steve Coccimiglio says teams have to focus on improving in November and December to prepare for conference play. 

"I think we're doing just that," Coccimiglio said. 

Diablo Valley won two of three at the DVC Classic last week, including scoring a season-high total in an 84-63 win over Sierra-Rocklin in the third-place game, in which the Vikings scored 16 points in transition.  

Troy Owens Jr., a 6-foot-2 freshman out of Cordova High-Sacramento, led the Vikings with 21 points against Sierra, and Reggie Arthur-Mixon (Capitol Christian-Sacramento) had 13 points. Remy Dillard (Bishop Monague-Nevada) had three 3-pointers. 

The Vikings (5-3), who are gearing up for their Jan. 5 Big 8 opener at San Joaquin Delta, will compete in the San Jose City and West Valley tournaments to complete "conference" (change word to nonconference) play. They will face College of Alameda (2-6) on Thursday to open the San Jose event, and then challenge Ohlone (2-4) on Friday and Merritt (4-5) on Saturday.

The Vikings dropped a heartbreaker to Las Positas in the semifinals of the DVC Classic 69-68 in overtime. Damien Banford (Newark Memorial) led DVC with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the second straight game. Anthony Buscemi (College Park) came off the bench to grab seven defensive rebounds. 

In the first round, DVC erased a 22-18 halftime deficit in a 64-54 win over Solano. Transition baskets off tenacious defense and hot shooting keyed the 46-point second half. 

"We were just playing our game, being patient and locking down on defense. That's what we try to emphasize," Banford said. 

Women's basketball 

The Vikings (6-3) were outscored 28-12 in third quarter after holding a six-point halftime lead in a 72-63 loss to Fresno City (5-2) in the championship game of the Contra Costa College Costa Classic.  

Three Vikings reached double-digit scoring: Antuanisha Wright with 15 points, Brandy Williams (13) and Jojuan Carrington (12). 

DVC routed Laney 77-42 in the semifinals as nine Vikings had at least six points. In a 53-51 win over Foothill, Carrington had 19 points and Wright and Williams had 10 apiece. 

Matt Schwab