Bakersfield College men’s basketball team lost to L.A. Valley in a close game  that needed overtime to decide the winner.

BC lost to L.A. Valley 67-65 on Feb. 8. The Renegades got 23 points from freshman forward Conroy Lester.

BC came in with a 3-5 Western State Conference record and they went up against the number two team in the conference in L.A. Valley.

BC started the game off well building a 13-8 lead to start the game. The Renegades kept attacking L.A. Valley’s defense and just taking control of the game, but L.A. Valley was able to stay in the game as BC took a 26-25 lead into halftime.

After halftime in which BC honored the 1978 state champions, the two teams started to battle for the control of the game as the lead changed hands back-and-forth in the second half.

BC got to a slow start in the second half falling behind 34-31 with 15 minutes left, but managed to come back and take the lead.

BC was able to build a 55-52 lead with 22.3 seconds left when BC turned the ball over and gave L.A. Valley the chance they needed to tie the game.

“We had the lead, but the turnover really cost us because it gave them the opportunity to tie up the game,” said BC coach Rich Hughes.

L.A. Valley was able to tie the game sending the game into overtime all tied up at 57-57. In overtime BC fell behind and were down 67-61 with 54 seconds left. After two quick Renegade baskets that cut into that lead, and with five seconds left BC got the ball back after two missed free throws by L.A. Valley.

BC guard Daniel Womack got a good look to tie the game in the final seconds, but it didn’t go in.

“We drew up a play to attack the basket, but we didn’t know what defense they would play so we had Danny [Womack], who’s one of our better penetrators, attack the basket. We also wanted to get an open shot for Conroy if they helped, but Danny got in and got a good look, it just didn’t go in,” said Hughes.

Hughes commented on the game.

“I thought we played well since they were the number two in our conference and we did a better job this time than the last time we played them. A few plays just cost us at the end.

I thought we played good defense. We still gave up some good looks at the end, but I thought we competed,” he said.

BC’s next game is scheduled to be their final home game, and it’s against Citrus on Feb. 11.