2008 Woodie Awards
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Lady Monarchs Learning the Hard Way
Young team still in search of confidence and rhythm as Valley's two quick losses lead to early exit from Moorpark Tournament.
Nick Santoni
Issue date: 12/14/05 Section: Sports
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The Valley College women's basketball team continues to struggle in the preseason, eliminated in the second round of the Moorpark Tournament on Saturday.
Before the tournament got under way, the team desired to take on tougher competition. "[Mt. San Antonio] is a top team," said assistant coach Shelton Boykin. "We want to play teams that will make us better as a whole. We're not looking for any pushovers."
But in Friday's first-round game against top seed Mt. San Antonio, Valley received more than they had bargained for, demolished 75-31.
The Eagles played relentless defense, holding the Lady Monarchs to under 30 percent from the floor, using their speed to get easy baskets in the paint and from Valley turnovers.
Valley's second-round loss to Monterey Peninsula on Saturday 74-61 may have brought the Lady Monarchs' tournament hopes to a halt, but the game was far more competitive. Valley ran out of gas in the game's waning moments, and with eight minutes left to play and down only four points, 57-53, Monterey tightened the screws and hit clutch shots.
Valley's defensive breakdown during this span dropped their preseason record to a lowly 1-10 overall.
"We just need to play better defense, and get back in transition," said Freshman-starter Ashley DeBose in reference to the team's collapse at the end of the second half. "We need to keep our poise no matter the situation and play as a team."
Although the preseason results have not been up to the coaching staff's expectations, the preseason schedule is composed of tougher teams that they won't have to face when the regular season starts on Jan. 4. Valley hopes the tougher preseason opposition will gear the team up for divisional play and the Lady Monarchs should only benefit in the future.
