FCC men’s basketball 34-game winning streak ends at state championships; FCC women also advanced to quarterfinals
Photo © Roger Wall
The second-longest winning streak in Fresno City College men’s basketball history–34 consecutive victories–came to a halt in the state championship quarterfinal game against Riverside College. The FCC Rams were hoping to tie, and hopefully surpass, a school record of 35 consecutive wins. But Riverside College defeated the FCC Rams 71-67 on March 12 in Fresno’s Selland Arena to end FCC’s streak and season. Three days later, Riverside College won the state championship.
The teams’ combined record was 64-8 (.889), the best combo in school history.
The Fresno City College women’s team had a 15-game winning streak as they entered the quarterfinals, but it was snapped by defending state champion Mt. San Antonio College, 70-64 on Friday, March 13. Ironically, Mt. San Antonio College ended the women’s 2008 season as well, with an 89-83 triumph in the state semifinals at Stockton.
Although the FCC Rams came up short at the 2009 state championships, both teams had outstanding seasons. The teams’ combined record was 64-8 (.889), the best combo in school history. Also, both teams were undefeated in winning respective Central Valley Conference titles, a first in FCC basketball history.
Photo © George Amenta
The women’s team marked an historical milepost by being the first to post back-to-back 30-win seasons. In two seasons of guiding FCC, head coach Brian Tessler has a 65-10 (.867) record and is undefeated in Central Valley Conference play. “In my 12 years of coaching women’s basketball, this has probably been the most gratifying season. Our team got to the Final 8 with 10 players, none of whom was taller than 5′ 10″. It was a team that worked as hard as any I’ve ever coached and I’m very, very proud of them,” said Coach Brian Tessler.
FCC men’s head coach, Ed Madec. Photo © Roger Wall
In three seasons as the FCC men’s head coach, Ed Madec is 96-17 (.850), guiding the Rams to the 2006-07 state championship followed by two consecutive quarterfinal appearances. Looking back, Madec commented on his team’s great season, saying “Pride was our motivation. We have developed lifetime relationships, we’ve taken the FCC winning tradition to another level, and our academic excellence and the life skills that they’ve learned have continually improved. All of our sophomores will move on and play at the four-year level.”
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