Girls basketball continues winning streak
By Bill Tamburrino
Coach Dan Marshall’s Bulldog girls basketball team took control of the race for the Valley League title with two big wins on the road.
The Lady Dawgs beat Valley Center (4-16, 1-3) and then beat Del Norte (14-7, 3-1) in a battle for sole possession of first place in the Valley League. The Bulldog girls are riding a 12-game winning streak and are currently ranked second in Division II in the San Diego Section of the CIF. The team is 16-6 overall and 4-0 in league action.
Ramona’s defense set the tone of the Valley Center game in the first quarter as the Lady Dawg defense shut out the Jaguars 11-0 in the initial period in route to a 57-29 win.
Katherine Mauldin recorded another double double as she led all scorers with 21 points and all rebounders with 10 boards. She also had five steals on defense. Kailey Hill also scored in double figures as she scored 14 points, dished off four assists, had six steals and blocked a shot.
Kylee Scheib contributed nine rebounds, had an assist, two steals and a blocked shot. Christina Barrameda scored 8 points, had five steals and four rebounds. Chiara Mattern hit two 3-point shots as she scored eight points, grabbed four boards and had two steals. Lauren Werhanowicz (1), Hannah Farhat (2) and Molly McLeod (3) also scored in the game.
When Ramona faced Del Norte the first time this season the Nighthawks were not at full strength. The Nighthawks, however, out-rebounded the Lady Dawgs who won 41-30 in a defensive battle. In the showdown for first place in the Valley League, Ramona entered the Del Norte game with only eight players available. They were the right eight as the Lady Dawgs took possession of first place with a 49-43 win. Ramona won the battle of the boards 48-35.
Hill and Barrameda each recorded double doubles. Hill scored 17 points and grabbed 10 boards. Barrameda ran the offense, scored 12 points and had a game-high 13 rebounds.
“We play team offense and team defense. When a team doubles Katherine to take her out of the offense they pay. When they play her honest they pay. When they doubled Katherine, Kailey, Hannah and Christina were left open to hit threes. We work the ball to find an open shot and we hit the boards,” explained Marshall.
Mauldin scored 7 points and grabbed 11 boards despite being doubled on offense most of the game.
Again, Ramona’s defense was the difference in the game. Ramona held Del Norte to 13 first-half points as it took a 30-13 lead into the locker room. Del Norte made a run in the second half. The Lady Dawg defense bent but refused to break, and held on for the victory.
“They are a very good team and we will have to beat them at our gym for the league championship,” said Marshall.
Mattern (2), Werhanowicz (3), Farhat (5), and Scheib (3) also scored in the game. Ramona won by 6 so every point mattered. That is what the term “Team Offense” is all about. Every point counts as does every game.
The Lady Dawgs play Mission Vista at home on Friday at 5:30 p.m.