Girls varsity is back in basketball race

The Lady Bulldogs won two Valley League games and got back into the race for the league championship by beating Valley Center and Westview. The Lady Bulldogs are now 12-5 on the season.

The Lady Dawgs started both games with big scoring runs in the first periods and played their signature physical defense to hold both teams to under 40 points.

The Lady Bulldogs beat Valley Center 61-37 in the Dawg House to get back into the Valley League race.

Ramona opened with a 15-3 run, but Valley Center narrowed the score to 15-10 at the end of the first period.

In the second period both teams were colder than the weather at the inaugural and the play got sloppy. Janet Nasman got into foul trouble and the Lady Bulldog offense suffered. Ramona led 26-19 at intermission.

The third period was all Ramona. The Lady Dawgs scored the first 14 points of the second half and outscored Valley Center 24-5 in the quarter. Coach Dan Marshall substituted freely in the final period and Ramona cruised to the win.

Janet Nasman and Kellie Schoepp recorded double doubles. Nasman scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Schoepp scored 12 points and also recorded 15 rebounds.

The Bulldogs got off to a fast start against the Westview Wolverines and held on to register a 41-36 win. The win improved the Lady Dawgs’ record to 3-2 in league play and puts them into a tie for second place with Westview and Valley Center. Mt. Carmel leads the league with a 6-0 record.

Ramona’s defense did not allow a field goal in the first period as the team built a 13-3 lead. Westview closed the gap to 20-14 at half.

The third period was more like a street riot than a basketball game. To say that it was physical would be like saying combat is friendly. Ramona scored three field goals and Westview only scored one. Both teams scored several takedowns, through many blocks and registered multiple tackles.

“It was very physical. When some teams play physical basketball, writers call it good defense. When we play physically, writers call it brutal” said Marshall, referring to remarks made by a sportswriter from a daily paper made after the game.

The two teams got back to basketball in the final period. Westview closed the gap to four points but never could catch the Lady Dawgs.

Nasman registered a double double. The senior post player scored 12 points and grabbed ten rebounds. She also blocked two shots, had four steals and dished out three assists.

Schoepp also played a great all-around game. The junior forward led the Lady Dawgs with 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had five steals on defense. Senior guard Chelsea Maurer grabbed nine rebounds, five steals, two assists and scored five points. Paige Conroy (3), Tessa Balcom (2), Linze Cole (2) and Kathryn Owens (2) also scored in the victory.

Junior varsity

Coach Kylie Harris’ junior varsity remained undefeated by beating Westview 56-39. The Lady Dawgs are 5-0 in the Valley League and are in first place.

Kimmy Whelehon led all scorers with 22 points. Rae Ann Vantol scored 13 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as she controlled the boards at both ends of the court. Lindsey Spieker scored in double figures with 11 points. Megan Buckley (5), Stephanie DeStefano (2), Ciara Swier (1) and Courtney Robinson (2) also scored in the league win.