Ceres High graduates Brett Sayad and Kristen McClure had bitter-sweet final seasons with Modesto Junior College's basketball programs.
"It was hard," said Sayad, a 6-foot-6 sophomore forward on the men's team. "I'd rather win than me do good. I'm a team player before anything."
Brett averaged 13.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game for the Pirates, who struggled to a 11-16 overall record and placed sixth in the Big 8 Conference (5-9). Sayad, Modesto Junior College's leading scorer, shot 49 percent from the field (123 of 250) and 45 percent from 3-point range (52 of 116).
"We should have done better," said Brett, who scored in double figures 16 times. "It was an up-and-down year. We lost a lot of one-possession games even though we had experience from last season."
McClure, a 5-foot-9 sophomore forward, averaged 11.0 point, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game for the freshman-laiden Lady Pirates (5-24, 0-14).
"I don't know what happened," she said. "We had a whole bunch of talent on our team. We played as hard as we could every game. That's all you can ask for."
Sayad had a phenomenal freshman season with Modesto Junior College. He averaged 15 points and 7.2 rebounds per game on his way to earning first-team, Big 8 Conference honors. Brett was a role player during the first part of the year.
"I'm happy with how I played," Sayad said while assessing his junior-college career. "I would have liked to make playoffs both years."
Brett did get a chance to reunite with former Bulldog teammate Kevin Dupree this past season.
Dupree played in 25 games as well for Modesto Junior College. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound sophomore forward averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest. Kevin and Brett played varsity together for two years at Ceres High.
"It was cool," Sayad said.
McClure was supposed to suit up for Modesto JC in 2007-08 but missed the entire season with a devastating injury.
"I'm thankful I got my knee back to normal," said Kristen, who was a key contributor as the Pirates finished 8-20 on the year and fourth in the Big 8 (6-8). "I just love playing basketball and being around my teammates."
Brett will work out with Modesto Junior College coaches Dennis Seeley (assistant) and Rus Lewis (strength and conditioning) during the offseason.
"I'm going to try to improve every part of my game," he said.
Brett has already received scholarship offers from several California schools.
Cal State Stanislaus and Cal Baptist have both expressed interest.
"I'm still waiting to see if more things come," he said. "If it was up to me, I'd play at UOP. The coach hasn't called me."
Sayad prefers moving away from home.
"I want the college experience," he said. "I don't way to live (with my parents) all four years."
McClure plans to continue her education and playing career at a four-year school as well.
"Hopefully, I get a scholarship in one of the sports," said Kristen, who's also a standout in track and field.
McClure qualified for state in the shot put in 2009.
"It was hard," said Sayad, a 6-foot-6 sophomore forward on the men's team. "I'd rather win than me do good. I'm a team player before anything."
Brett averaged 13.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game for the Pirates, who struggled to a 11-16 overall record and placed sixth in the Big 8 Conference (5-9). Sayad, Modesto Junior College's leading scorer, shot 49 percent from the field (123 of 250) and 45 percent from 3-point range (52 of 116).
"We should have done better," said Brett, who scored in double figures 16 times. "It was an up-and-down year. We lost a lot of one-possession games even though we had experience from last season."
McClure, a 5-foot-9 sophomore forward, averaged 11.0 point, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game for the freshman-laiden Lady Pirates (5-24, 0-14).
"I don't know what happened," she said. "We had a whole bunch of talent on our team. We played as hard as we could every game. That's all you can ask for."
Sayad had a phenomenal freshman season with Modesto Junior College. He averaged 15 points and 7.2 rebounds per game on his way to earning first-team, Big 8 Conference honors. Brett was a role player during the first part of the year.
"I'm happy with how I played," Sayad said while assessing his junior-college career. "I would have liked to make playoffs both years."
Brett did get a chance to reunite with former Bulldog teammate Kevin Dupree this past season.
Dupree played in 25 games as well for Modesto Junior College. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound sophomore forward averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest. Kevin and Brett played varsity together for two years at Ceres High.
"It was cool," Sayad said.
McClure was supposed to suit up for Modesto JC in 2007-08 but missed the entire season with a devastating injury.
"I'm thankful I got my knee back to normal," said Kristen, who was a key contributor as the Pirates finished 8-20 on the year and fourth in the Big 8 (6-8). "I just love playing basketball and being around my teammates."
Brett will work out with Modesto Junior College coaches Dennis Seeley (assistant) and Rus Lewis (strength and conditioning) during the offseason.
"I'm going to try to improve every part of my game," he said.
Brett has already received scholarship offers from several California schools.
Cal State Stanislaus and Cal Baptist have both expressed interest.
"I'm still waiting to see if more things come," he said. "If it was up to me, I'd play at UOP. The coach hasn't called me."
Sayad prefers moving away from home.
"I want the college experience," he said. "I don't way to live (with my parents) all four years."
McClure plans to continue her education and playing career at a four-year school as well.
"Hopefully, I get a scholarship in one of the sports," said Kristen, who's also a standout in track and field.
McClure qualified for state in the shot put in 2009.
