Pitman High missed its shot, literally and figuratively, against Sheldon High on Wednesday night. The Pride met the Huskies in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Division I Section Playoffs in what became a catch-up game. Sheldon won handedly 78-43.

Sheldon utilized its athleticism early, getting into the open court and executing its offense. The Huskies surged in the first quarter as a trio of treys from Kyi Thomas helped them take an eleven point lead. Pitman’s offense was out of sorts, resulting in missed shot after missed shot. The Pride rallied a bit in the second quarter but by halftime Sheldon was up 35-17.

“We just didn’t have that competitive edge to contain the athleticism of Sheldon,” Pitman’s assistant head coach Undrea Walker said.

Pitman got off to another slow start in the second half as Sheldon outscored the Pride 23-9 in the third quarter. The Huskies’ ability to maximize each of their possessions frustrated the Pride, who failed to capitalize on their opportunities. Pitman’s opportunities were scarce, however, as its defense uncharacteristically lost the turnover battle. By the fourth quarter the Prides’ missed layups, free throws and perimeter shots ensured an early post season exit as they trailed by more than thirty points.

“When you play a team with talented athletes you need to execute, and we didn’t,” Walker said.

The Pride will return with only two players with Varsity experience next season, Branson Garcia and Aaron Mayfield, who led Pitman’s scoring effort in Wednesday’s game with eleven fourth quarter points. In what is surely to be a rebuilding season Pitman will benefit from a field of athletic JV players, which will help with its plan to retool its offense.

“We feel confident that they will step right in,” Walker said of next season’s Pride players.