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Pride shakes off loss to Davis with preseason win over Livingston
Diaz leads Pitman to 77-43 win
Pitman boys 4
In his first game this season for the Pitman Pride against Livingston, Leon Ohms finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, a steal and an assist. - photo by EDDIE RUIZ/The Journal

Jando Diaz hit seven three pointers, had a game-high 28 points and nine rebounds, and the Pitman High Pride (7-6) beat Livingston 77-43 on Monday night to end the preseason in the winner’s column and with a winning record.

“This win puts confidence in us that we need to restore from our loss at Davis,” said Diaz. “We came out strong and we have to keep playing like this throughout the rest of the season and keep this momentum going into league.”

Pitman finishes the preseason having won 7 of its last 8 games and Monday wasn’t far from the norm.

Pitman, who has been stingy on the defensive end, held Livingston to only 12 points in the opening quarter and extended the lead to 12 by the end of the first half.

The Pride never trailed for the game and led by as many as 34 points.

Isaiah Marable had 14 points, six assists, three boards and a block and was 3 of 9 from the three-point line.

Leon Ohms, who was playing in his first game for the Pride this season, scored 11 points and had 7 rebounds and an assist.

“I hope to bring some athleticism but a main goal for the point guard is to do everything for the team and help everyone, hustle in all plays and I just want to help in any way I can,” said Ohms.

Ohms had six of his 11 points in the final six minutes of regulation after a slow start in the first half, but he then settled in after coming in the third quarter feeling more comfortable.

“At first I was a bit nervous, in the first few minutes then after that I just said it was basketball and caught on since my last game was in April of 2015,” said Ohms. “In the second half I calmed down and we started to play and when the guys play together it’s easier. Now we are ready for league.”

There were 10 different players who scored for the Pride and as a team, Pitman hit 12 of 27 (44%) from three point land.

Diaz was 10 of 18 from the field and 7 of 13 from three, and added four steals and three assists for the game.

“I try not to think of the outcome of the game before, I kind of go with the flow and let the momentum drive me,” said Diaz. “If I am feeling my shot then I will shoot but I work on my shot a lot and try to be as consistent as possible and this game was just a good night I guess.”

Pitman also did a good job in points allowed, holding their opponents to under 45 points for the fourth time in the last six games.

“Our goal is always to keep every team we play under 10 points per quarter so tonight sort of worked out for us,” Diaz added.

Pitman’s first league game for the Central California Conference will be at home against Golden Valley at 7:15 p.m. Friday.

“We had a slow preseason start but won the Godinez tournament and did well at the Oakdale tournament so we had some good games but now our goal is to be ready for league,” Ohms added. “We will go one game at a time but I want to win every single game till the end of the year.”