Girls basketball season ends with 20-9 record

Bulldogs beat Steele Canyon in CIF contest, lose to Mt. Carmel

The seeding committee was correct. Ramona’s girls basketball team received the number six seed in the Division II CIF playoffs. The team beat the number 11 seed, Steele Canyon, 47-41, in the opening round last Tuesday night and lost to the number three seed, Mt. Carmel, 79-72, in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Lady Bulldogs finished the season with a 20-9 record.

The Lady Dawgs had to come from behind to beat Steele Canyon in the Dawg House. Both teams opened cold and committed numerous turnovers in the first period When the buzzer rang, Ramona led 5-4.

In the second period, both teams opened up their offenses and the Cougars outscored the Lady Dawgs 20-14 to take a 24-20 lead into the locker room. Ramona committed 12 turnovers in the first half and forced six Cougar turnovers.

Steele Canyon continued to pressure the Lady Dawgs in the third period and forced eight turnovers. However, the Lady Dawgs came alive late in the third quarter and started a run. Ramona scored 10 straight points in the final minutes of the third period and in the first four minutes of the final period to take a 40-34 lead.

Linze Cole hit a three-point goal to start the final period and give Ramona a one point advantage The Lady Dawgs never trailed after that.

Ramona took control of the boards in the final period and that was the difference in the game. Janet Nasman led all rebounders with 12 rebounds. Nasman also blocked five shots and had three steals, all in the paint.

Kathryn Owens grabbed eight rebounds. Her final rebound ensured the victory for Ramona as she grabbed a defensive rebound on a three point attempt with 12 seconds left in the game.

Kellie Schoepp had six rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot. Chelsea Maurer grabbed four boards, blocked three shots, had four steals and contributed an assist.

“We took control in the fourth period,” said Coach Joe Bess. “Until then, Steele Canyon controlled the boards and we were not getting second shots and they were. Kellie, Janet, Kathryn and Chelsea all stepped up at the right time to set the pace in the final period.”

Kathryn Owens led The Lady Bulldogs in scoring with 16 points. Schoepp also tallied in double digits with 10 points. Nasman (8), Paige Conroy (3), Felisha Stead (1), Cole (6), and Maurer (3) scored in the victory.

On Friday at Mt. Carmel High, Mt. Carmel scored the first basket of the game and never trailed as Ramona lost to the Sundevils.

Ramona went to the low post for most of its points as Owens (22), Nasman (14) and Schoepp (14) scored from under the bucket. Conroy (11) and Cole (11) hit three and two three-point goals, respectfully, as five Lady Bulldogs scored in double figures for the first time all season.

Mt. Carmel countered Ramona’s balanced attack with the hot hand of Maggie Doremus. Doremus hit five three-point shots on her way to a game high 30 points. She was the difference.

Mt. Carmel led by 17 points at half and stretched their lead to 20 points midway through the third period.

Ramona cut the Sundevil lead to six points in the fourth period, but the Sundevils bounced back to take a 10-point lead with 1:16 left in the game. Paige Conroy hit two three-point shots and Ramona closed the gap to five points when the clock ran out on the Lady Bulldog’s season.

“This group of athletes was a lot of fun to coach,” said Dan Marshall, the team’s head coach. “The seniors did an excellent job of leading and being role models for the underclassmen,.”

Marshall also had praise for his assistant coaches. “Joe Bess and Erin O’Connor should get much of the credit for our success. Nobody has a better staff than I did this season. They both can teach and communicate.”

Bess is at the end of his coaching career and O’Connor is starting hers.