After six weeks of stiff preseason competition, league play can seem to fly by quickly. East County girls basketball teams are coming to the end of the first round of conference matches, a frustrating reality for some and an unbelievable milestone for others.
After six weeks of stiff preseason competition, league play can seem to fly by quickly. East County girls basketball teams are coming to the end of the first round of conference matches, a frustrating reality for some and an unbelievable milestone for others.
El Capitan leads the Grossmont Valley standings undefeated, followed by Steele Canyon with a 2-1 record. Although the Cougars had a better record in preseason, Vaquero head coach Darin Curtis said El Capitan intentionally scheduled competitive matches to prepare their entirely underclassman-staffed team for conference. So far, the work seems to be paying off.
The Vaqueros may be delighting in unexpected success, but other teams are struggling with the mid-season slump.
“We’ve had a tough season this year, a lot of injuries and ineligibility, all the normal issues,” Monte Vista head coach Megan Forbell following the team’s 48-30 win against Valhalla. “But today was a good change of momentum. We’re small, we’re short and we’re going hard.”
The Monarchs only have two seniors, so the program is in the process of reshaping, said Forbell.
“We’ve been playing some girls down,” she said. “It’s a freshman program so we’re spreading all the girls out. It’s becoming a whole new program, with a new dynamic and new energy, and the girls love playing which is the most important part.”
Monarch senior and team captain Marina Rankins said the season has been difficult, but she has hope that it will redeem itself.
“We all fall down but we find a way to get back up for the next game,” she said. “We learn more things from our losses. I’d like to be happy and satisfied, win or lose, I’d like to have a good season, to play hard and have fun.”
Mariah Moore, co-captain of the Monarchs, said she was relieved to grab a win, given the slump in their record — Monte Vista had won only three of their last 12 games.
“Our hard work is finally paying off,” she said. “I just hope we win the rest of our games. Realistically, we have four more games, so I want us to finish strong and have good memories of this season.”
In the Hills league, Mount Miguel leads, 4-0, with Helix and West Hills following, 3-1. Grossmont and Granite Hills are both 1-3 and Santana has yet to put a win on the board for conference.
As the chips begin to fall and the realities of the season become clearer, Moore said she likes to focus on the retrievable good that comes from losing.
“We get to engage with each other more,” she said. “We become closer as sisters and family.”
