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Pitman and Denairs girls come up short in playoffs
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Pitman High's postseason ended before it really began on Monday when the Pride (13-15 overall) faced Chavez High of Stockton. The Titans (16-11 overall) took advantage of a low energy Pitman team that struggled to find the basket, winning the out bracket game 51-44.

Alex DeChari led the Pride's scoring effort with 19 points but made less than half of her shots from the post. Pitman's other shooters also had trouble with their accuracy, missing more than half of their attempted shots as well.

Although Pitman struggled throughout Monday's matchup its girls were never completely out of the game. The Pride led early in the fourth quarter, 36-32, and looked to be on their way to meet Pleasant Grove High in the first round of the Div. I CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. The Pride's offense picked up in the fourth quarter to score fourteen points but their defense couldn't hold the Titans back and with forty seconds left in regulation play it was a one possession game. In the end Chavez' 21 fourth quarter points were too much for Pitman to overcome.

Pitman ends its 2011-12 season with the first CCC championship in the school's history. The Pride will lose five players by next season, three of which were starters, but will enjoy the return of experienced players like DeChari and Cady Riley.

Denair High also saw an early exit from the post season. The Coyotes (10-12 overall) faced Foresthill High on Tuesday, losing 50-32. The Wildfires (17-7 overall) held a consistent lead over Denair, taking advantage of Coyote turnovers and turning them into fast break points.

Denair's girls, tired and flat from the three hour trip, never found their rhythm. Foresthill's control over the game's tempo resulted in a slew of missed shots on the Coyote's part. In the second Denair pulled within ten points of the Wildfires, it was the closest margin of the game.

Despite the first round loss first year head Coach Daniel Rodriguez and his team were proud to be back in the postseason. Denair and Rodriguez will lose six seniors by next season, most of them starters. The Coyotes will be in a rebuilding year but the return of Samantha and Morgan Watts, no relation, will help the process.