FEBRUARY 27, 2009
SPORTS
Patriots win playoff by Kenny Lee Correspondent In the first North Coast Section playoff post-season in school history Tuesday night, the Heritage girls basketball team dominated Clayton Valley 57-31 before a sparse crowd in Patriots Gymnasium. Head Coach Darin Price guided his team to an 18-8 regular-season record, a second-place ranking in the league this season, and a seventh seed in the NCS playoffs. Beating the taller Eagles team appeared to be a tall order for the Patriots. And the first period proved it, as Heritage managed only nine points. But the Patriots’ defense kept them in the game, allowing Clayton Valley only six points in the opening frame. Heritage’s senior guards Khyia Slone and Amaka Ofodu suffocated their backcourt counterparts, forcing numerous turnovers. But despite an advantage in the rebounding department, the Patriots were unable to get many inside shots past Clayton Valley’s dominant sophomore center Sarah Nelson. In the second quarter, Heritage increased the defensive pressure with a fullcourt zone press, which allowed them to score on several fast breaks. In fact, turnovers were the deciding factor in this contest, as the younger Eagles were harassed constantly by Heritage. Seniors Kara Babo and Ivy Jones led
the defensive charge, and junior Kiana Caban began scoring from outside. At the half, Heritage held a 23-10 advantage. When Caban hit a three-pointer midway through the third period, she had personally outscored the entire Clayton Valley team 17-14. Coach Price urged his charges to keep the pressure on, and Heritage responded. The Lady Patriots even managed to create some inside opportunities, as Babo’s persistence in the paint resulted in Clayton Valley’s Nelson committing her third foul with a little more than four minutes remaining in the period, forcing her to the bench. The going got much easier after that for Heritage, which took a 3916 margin into the fourth quarter. The last frame was anticlimactic, as the speed of the Patriots overcame the height advantage of Clayton Valley, which was outscored 18-15. The Patriot girls continue their playoff run tonight, Feb. 27, at Pinole Valley High with a 7:30 tipoff. The Patriot boys team begins its playoff bid starting at 7:30 p.m. at home tonight, also against Pinole Valley. In other East County basketball playoff action on Tuesday night, the Freedom boys team lost to Berkeley 77-62; the Deer Valley boys lost to Castro Valley 62-5; and the Antioch girls lost to Granada 53-42. The Deer Valley girls team launches its playoff run at home tonight at 7:30 p.m. against San Ramon Valley.
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