Girls lose two basketball games on the road

By Bill Tamburrino

Ramona High’s girls basketball team hit the road and lost to Poway and Torrey Pines in Palomar League action.

The Lady Dawgs remain on the road until Feb. 10. The Ladies from the Valley of the Sun are 12-8 overall and 1-3 in league play.

Coach Erin O’Connor played at Poway High School (17-4, 4-0) for Coach Jay Trousdale and the two coaches have similar styles. Both teach and preach a smothering defense and an unselfish offense. The Titans had too many weapons for the Lady Dawgs to stop and won 47-33 on Tuesday.

The game was physical as Ramona was called for 13 fouls to 14 for Poway.

RaeAnne VanTol recorded a double-double as the senior grabbed 10 rebounds and scored 10 points. She was the only Ramona player scoring in double figures. Paige Conroy (5), Niki Spring (2), Kim Whelehon (8) and Tiana Zuniga (8) scored in the game.

Katherine Mauldin and Nike Spring did a good job on the boards. Mauldin grabbed four rebounds and Spring got three.

A very slow start on offense cost Ramona a game at Torrey Pines (10-11, 1-3). The Lady Dawgs were held to 9 first half points and fell behind 23-9 at half. After making offensive adjustments at intermission, the Lady Dawgs outscored the Falcons 39-39 in the second half and got to within 4 points in the fourth quarter but could not get the lead in a 53-48 defeat.

VanTol recorded another double-double as she grabbed 11 rebounds and scored an identical 11 points. Whelehon contributed 10 points and played her usual fierce defense and grabbed two steals. Mauldin scored 2 points and had two rebounds and two assists. Zuniga led the team in steals with three and scored 9 points to go with her five boards. Kailey Hill and (2) Megan Buckley (5) also scored in the game.

“I am very proud of the way the girls hung in there and made a comeback in the second half. We made some adjustments and the girls gave it their all,” stated O’Connor.