Special to Chabot: Mahoney, Finnie good friends, top players

Special to Chabot Athletics

Chabot women’s basketball stars Zakiya Mahoney and Mia Finnie are not only dominant players on a quality team, but they’re also buddies.

"We are great friends on an off the court," Finnie said of Mahoney. "She keeps me calm. She is a hard-working player, really energetic. ... She brings a lot of energy to the team."

Together Finnie and Mahoney should play a key role for the Gladiators in the CCCAA Northern California Regional Playoffs. Chabot (20-9), seeded ninth, will travel to No. 8 Sacramento City (19-10) on Friday in Round 2.

Mahoney, a first-team all-Coast-North Division pick like Finnie, led the conference in rebounds per game with 10.6. She was also third in scoring at 15.4 points per game, with Finnie fourth (13.1).

"Zakiya is relentless; she plays really hard and has a great motor," Chabot coach Mark Anger said of the Bishop O’Dowd High graduate. "She is one of those players who has the biggest games against the biggest opponents."

Indeed, the freshman came up big with 26 points and 15 rebounds against CCSF; had a 23-12 line in the rematch with the Rams; and pumped in 27 points against Delta.
Finnie, a sophomore from Berkeley High, has stepped up her game this year.
"She is really improved, and is much more consistent on both ends of the floor," Anger said.
This season's twists and turns have taught Finnie that possibilities are endless when things do come together.
"Everybody has ups and downs," she said. "Playoffs wise, anything can happen."

The Gladiators may have a bit of a chip on their shoulders.

"We've been getting better, and we are playing together well,” said Anger, whose 2015 team won the state championship. "We want to prove we are better than the ninth seed."

The Gladiators aim to repeat the feat of a year ago, when they also were the No. 9 seed and won 85-78 on the road at Feather River. For most of the roster, this is not a new challenge.
"So we have players who have that experience and know what it means going on the road and playing together to get a win," Anger said. "They are determined. We have come together at the right time."
Along the way, the Gladiators have weathered some storms, the most significant being the loss of point guard Alyssa Pluth to a torn ACL in an emotional game in which Chabot nearly beat conference champ City College of San Francisco. The Rams won that Jan. 25 game on a late 3-pointer, 74-72, ending a four-game Chabot win streak.
The aftershock of the defeat and loss of Pluth carried over into a 66-61 defeat to College of San Mateo, but the Gladiators regrouped.
With Angelina Defranco, a freshman from Hayward High, stepping in at point guard, Chabot went on a February roll. There was a 70-58 win over Skyline to earn a season sweep over the Trojans, and the 5-1 regular-season finish culminated in an 80-64 victory over San Mateo. Chabot tied with Skyline for second place in conference play.

With No. 1 seed Diablo Valley set to meet the Chabot-Sac. City winner in Round 3, the Gladiators will need to be at their best to make a run.

The good news for Chabot: When the big games arrive, it’s Mahoney Time.