Girls rebound to beat RB after basketball loss to Mt. Carmel
By Bill Tamburrino
Coach Erin O’Connor’s Ramona High girls basketball team had a tough week, suffering their worst defeat of league play and facing other struggles.
After losing to Mt. Carmel, however, they beat Rancho Bernardo for their second win in league play. Both games were on the road. The Lady Dawgs are now 13-9 and 2-4 in league action.
“We faced much adversity this week and we are working through it and becoming a strong team,” said O’Connor. “That is what athletics is all about, learning to overcome life’s obstacles and setbacks.”
The team is focusing on building team defense for the playoffs, she said.
“Kim (Whelehon) and Tiana (Zuniga) showed senior leadership on the court by stepping up the intensity,” stated O’Connor.
The team could not get its offense going against Mt. Carmel and as a result lost to the Sundevils 63-27 on the road in front of a Senior Night crowd.
Two Lady Dawgs played well on offense and scored in double figures. RaeAnne VanTol scored 13 points and Whelehon contributed 10. Julie Ward hit two free throws and Zuniga scored a 2-point goal and that was the extent of Ramona’s offense.
VanTol led the team with seven rebounds. Megan Buckley grabbed four boards. Ward, Whelehon, Zuniga and Katherine Mauldin grabbed two rebounds apiece.
Ramona rebounded to beat Rancho Bernardo 67-56 and had to face some of that adversity that O’Connor talked about in the win. Ramona lost VanTol, Paige Conroy and Niki Spring during the game. All three suffered ankle injuries and the extent of the injuries was not known at press time.
Ramona wasted no time in taking the lead, had a 22-10 advantage after one period of play and built a 36-23 lead at intermission. The team led 58-39 going into the final eight minutes.
Rancho Bernardo staged a rally and outscored the Lady Dawgs 17-9, but Ramona held on for the victory.
Whelehon showed leadership in more ways than one. The senior captain led Ramona in scoring with 22 points. She also grabbed three boards and played tenacious defense and had three steals.
Zuniga also led from the front as she scored 16 points. With VanTol hurt, Zuniga went to work on the boards and grabbed 12 rebounds and had three steals. Conroy scored 11 points before leaving the game.
The entire team filled in for VanTol who only played seven minutes. VanTol scored 4 points and grabbed five boards while she was in.
Kailey Hill (3), Megan Buckley (4) Katherine Mauldin (4) and Ashlyn Savage (3) filled in in the paint for the senior center. Micaela Fields played seven minutes and grabbed one board and played well on defense. Spring (2), Hill (1), Buckley (5), Mauldin (2) and Savage (3) contributed points to the offense.