Girls end basketball season with two wins
Ramona’s girls varsity basketball players pulled off their biggest upset of the season by beating the number two team in the CIF, Westview High School, in the Dawg House.
The Lady Dawgs then went on the road and beat San Marcos. For their efforts The Lady Dawgs received the eighth seed in the CIF Division II playoffs and a home game against Morse High School.
The team finished its first campaign under the tutelage of Erin O’Connor with a 16-11 record overall and a 9-3 mark and a third place finish in the Valley League.
The Lady Bulldogs played their best game of the season and avenged a first round 58-44 league loss to Westview by beating the Wolverines 44-40 in the Dawg House. Westview came into the game with a 22-3 record and were undefeated in the Valley League.
“They were on run offensively coming into the game,” said Ramona coach Erin O’Connor. “They were averaging over 60 points per game. I told the team that we would have to hold them to under 40 points if we were to have a chance of winning. The girls did the job.”
Westview doubled Kellie Schoepp on defense, but Schoepp still scored 8 points and hauled in a game high 12 rebounds. She dished off five assists when she was double teamed in the paint.
RaeAnne Van Tol scored 12 points and grabbed nine boards. Paige Conroy scored 9 points, grabbed six rebounds and had four assists.
When Westview doubled Schoepp and Van Tol in the paint, Tessa Balcom made them pay as she hit four 3-points shots on her way to a game high 15 points.
The Westview win gave the team from the Valley of the Sun momentum and confidence going into the final game of the regular season. The Lady Dawgs used their familiar formula to beat San Marcos 58-40. Ramona’s defense smothered the Lady Knights’ offense and held them to 6 points in the first quarter, 9 in the second quarter and 10 in the third period.
Three Lady Dawgs scored in double figures and two turned in double-doubles. Schoepp led all scorers with 15 points and recorded a double-double by hauling in 12 boards.
Van Tol scored 13 points and had a game high 14 rebounds. Balcom hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 points.
Tori Sheppard led the team with seven assists as she scored 5 points. Jessica Beam (2), Conroy (4), Felisha Stead (2), Courtney Robinson (2) and Christie Flores (2) also scored in the league victory.
The Lady Dawgs finished the regular season with a six-game winning streak and are playing their best ball as they head to the playoffs.