DEEP THINKING HAS AVC GOING FAR ROTATION HAS BEEN VITAL TO TEAM'S POSTSEASON SUCCESS.Byline: Nathan Brown Nathan Brown may refer to:
The Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley women's basketball Women's basketball is one of the few games which developed in tandem with men's. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast, in large part via women's colleges. team does not run its opponents off the floor by using superstars to take over a game. Instead, Antelope Valley methodically draws teams into its game plan and hits them from all sides. Whether it be RaChauna Randle, Mariqueta Starling starling, any of a group of originally Old World birds that have become distributed worldwide. Starlings were brought to New York in 1890; since then the common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) has spread throughout North America. , Shalonie Hutchinson or any of the other seven to nine players coach John Taylor John Taylor, or Johnny Taylor may refer to: Academic figures
(2) (Audio Visual C makes teams pay attention to everyone on the court. ``If anyone keys on any one player,'' Taylor said, ``they're in trouble.'' AVC's camaraderie has produced the program's most successful season to date. Going into today's State quarterfinal game against Lassen College Lassen College is a community college in Susanville, California and it is a part of the California Community Colleges system. Lassen Community College[1] of Susanville (25-4), AVC has strung together a school record 21 consecutive wins. AVC is ranked third in the state's Southern Region behind No. 1 seed Pasadena (27-1) and No. 2 seed Riverside (26-4) - but has the best winning percentage in the state at 30-2. ``We're not getting all caught up in that stuff,'' Taylor said of the seedings. ``We've got one thing on our mind, and that's advancing in the state playoffs.'' Making it among the final eight teams in the state was also on point guard Hutchinson's mind as she made five of six free throws with less than one minute remaining to defeat Fullerton 67-64 at home last Saturday. ``All I could think about was getting (to the state playoffs),'' Hutchinson said of her clutch free-throws. ``I was thinking, 'We've got to go.' '' Hutchinson exudes the cool demeanor every successful team has to have. With seconds left and a state playoff berth at UC San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. on the line, Hutchinson slowed the Fullerton game down to a manageable situation. The inside presence of All-State forwards Randle and Starling adds to AVC's potency. Although Starling and Randle are the team's leading scorers with 14 and 12 points per game, respectively, players such as Sheena Crenshaw cren·shaw also cran·shaw n. A variety of winter melon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus) having a greenish-yellow rind and sweet, usually salmon-pink flesh. [Origin unknown.] , Kelli Edwards-Valentine and Renita Mitchell come out of nowhere to put up double figures. ``Our success has to be attributed to our depth and balance,'' Taylor said. ``I run 10 to 12 players at a team just about every game.'' AVC has made a living of outlasting its opponents in the waning minutes of a game. Barring turnover problems, which almost cost AVC in the first round of the regionals against College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. , the Marauders are well-rested and injury-free. ``The (lack of) injuries have been a blessing,'' Taylor said. ``We've been fortunate in that area.'' Unlike a lot of teams competing at the junior college level, AVC practices pressure situations by using the scoreboard buzzer in the Marauders gym - and with the results of the first two rounds in the state regionals against COC See chip on chip. (81-79) and Fullerton (67-64), it seems to be working. Down the stretch, 5-foot-10 freshman Randle causes problems for opponents as well. Like many rebounders, Randle is always in the right position to get the ball. Randle has been the Marauders' rebounding leader in 12 games this season - her season-best total was 26 on Feb. 2 at home against Foothill Conference foe Chaffey. She also led the team in scoring that night with 21 points. Fellow state-selection and forward/center Starling complements Randle's hard-nosed, aggressive play with a soft touch around the basket. Starling has been the Marauders' leading scorer 13 times and put up 30 points Feb. 9 at Rio Hondo Rio Hondo may refer to:
Such a combination storied the '04-'05 Marauders as ``History Made and in the Making,'' according to the team's postseason media guide. Some of the history includes highest state ranking (second), third consecutive 20-win season, a school-record 30 wins, highest playoff seed (third), best start (seven wins to open the season), highest Southern California ranking (second) and longest win streak (21) to name a few. The Marauders have already gone further than any other team in the program's history and they've done it with one of the purest team concepts seen in coach Taylor's eyes. When asked if this was the best team he's ever coach, Taylor said, without hesitation, ``Absolutely.'' Nathan Brown, (818) 713-3607 nate.brown(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Shalonie Hutchinson, Mariqueta Starling and RaChauna Randle have been key reasons for AVC's 30-2 record this season. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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