Girls win 5 away basketball games, lose at home
By Bill Tamburrino
Ramona High Coach Erin O’Connor’s varsity girls basketball team made a big step up in competition and played well as it beat Santa Fe Christian and lost to La Costa Canyon in the North County Classic and fell to Granite Hills in the championship game of the Coronado Shootout.
The Lady Bulldogs won their fifth straight road game by beating Santa Fe Christian High School 64-59 to open the North County Classic.
Ramona got off to a fast start and led 16-10 after one quarter of play. Santa Fe Christian rallied to take a 29-26 lead into the locker room at half. Ramona cut the lead to 31-30 going into the final 8 minutes and rallied to outscore the Eagles 24-18 to win the game.
The difference in the game was Ramona’s ability to hit 3-point goals. The Lady Dawgs sunk seven to Santa Fe Christian’s four. Kim Whelehon hit four treys and Paige Conroy hit three from beyond the arch.
Rae Anne VanTol and Whelehon shared scoring honors with 20 points apiece. Conroy also registered in double figures with 14 points. Kailey Hill (2), Megan Buckley (3), Julie Ward (2) and Katherine Mauldin (3) also scored in the victory.
The Ladies from the Valley of the Sun faced a state playoff team and played well in a 60-45 loss to La Costa Canyon High School (2-0) in their first home game of the season.
“We faced a state playoff team and the number one seed in the tournament and with 5 minutes left in the game we were only 6 points down,” said O’Connor. “We missed some free throws down the stretch but we were there. We have been playing very well and I am pleased with our overall play. I am very proud of the way we fought back from being down by 15 points to have a chance to win it.”
La Costa had a size advantage under the bucket, but VanTol played well despite giving up 6 inches to the Mavericks’ Savannah Irwin. VanTol registered a double-double, scoring 10 and grabbing 10 boards. Whelehon led the Lady Dawgs in scoring with 14 points followed by Conroy with 13 points. Both seniors hit two three point goals. Niki Spring contributed 4 points and Zuniga added 8 points to the cause.
Granite Hills defeated Ramona in the championship game of the Coronado Shootout 64-30 to win the championship.
Ramona placed two athletes on the all tournament team. VanTol was selected as a post player and Whelehon was selected as a guard.