AVC NOTEBOOK: FIRST LOSS WON'T RUIN AVC'S PLANS.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

After beating its first two Foothill Conference opponents by an average of 53 points, the Antelope Valley College women's basketball team liked its chances of opening league with three consecutive wins.

Two-time defending conference champion Rio Hondo had other ideas, however.

Despite a career-high 34 points from freshman Kristel Jones, the Marauders (11-8, 2-1) lost 73-64 to visiting Rio Hondo on Saturday.

``We were ready, maybe too ready,'' coach John Taylor said. ``This is certainly not a season-ender for us. These kids are resilient.''

The Marauders trailed by 11 points at halftime but pulled within five on four separate occasions in the second half. AVC couldn't contain the Roadrunners' Sidney Giang, who scored 26 points and made all 13 of her free-throw attempts.

Jones' 34 points was the most by a Marauder since Paula Page scored 40 in 1991. Jones hit 14 of 28 shots from the field and 3 of 4 from the free- throw line, and had three 3-pointers.

Taylor, in his first year as AVC coach, has come to expect the solid play from his 5-foot-8 forward. Jones averages a team-high 15 points per game and has been the top scorer in 14 of the Marauders' 20 games.

``We don't talk about her getting 20 points every night, but her role is to score and we definitely want her to do that,'' Taylor said.

Unfortunately for the Marauders, Jones, a Littlerock High graduate, and freshman Jameka Taylor, who averages 10 points per game, are the only significant offensive contributors. No other player averages more than seven points a game.

If AVC hopes to challenge the likes of Rio Hondo and Chaffey for the conference title, role players Chawonda Barris, Diane Everett and Tamesha Scott will need to improve their offense.

``It's critical for us to have balanced scoring and in our system we should have at least eight players in the scoring column,'' Taylor said. ``We need to be tougher inside, and if the kids don't work hard the system doesn't work. As a team, we're starting to understand that.''

Conference play continues Thursday with a home game against Barstow, and Saturday with a trip to San Bernardino Valley. Both games are at 7 p.m.

--Taylor on Taylor: John Taylor says Littlerock High graduate Jameka Taylor, no relation, is the team's leader by example.

Taylor, the point guard, has led the Marauders in assists in all but four games this season and set a Marauders record with 10 steals in a game against Cerro Coso earlier this year.

``Jameka's our glue,'' Taylor said. ``She plays with such intensity, all out at all times. I wish all of our players came out with that same intensity. Her athleticism amazes me. She puts so much pressure defensively on the opponents' point guard that she's able to disrupt an offensive game plan.''

--Pearly whites: Sophomore guard Kim Moore lost a tooth attempting to fight through a screen in the Rio Hondo game. Adding insult to injury, Moore, a Lancaster High graduate, was called for the foul on the play. She underwent a root canal Tuesday and is expected to play Thursday against Barstow.

--Back at full strength: Behind the improved play of Jimmy White, the men's basketball team remained undefeated in Foothill Conference play with a 97-95 double-overtime victory Monday over visiting College of the Desert.

Seemingly recovered from a nagging wrist injury, White, a returning all- conference selection, scored 30 points, had seven rebounds and added four assists.