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Guard travels, seizes golden opportunity Georgia native finds promise in California "Y 2ODNEY 7OODSON %$)4/2 ). #()%&
RWOODSON ADVOCATE GMAIL COM
3EARCHING FOR A FRESH START #OMET FORWARD *EANNAY 7ASHINGTON TRAVELED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO #ONTRA #OSTA #OLLEGE FROM HER HOME STATE OF +ENTUCKY *OINING 7ASHINGTON WAS HER FRIEND OF NOW FIVE YEARS GUARD *EWEL 2OGERS WHO DROPPED EVERYTHING AND MADE THE MOVE TO #ALIFORNIA TO SEIZE AN OPPOR TUNITY THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR HER AT HOME h) THINK #ALIFORNIA IS BEAUTIFUL v 2OGERS SAID h7HEN ) FIRST ARRIVED HERE MY EYES GOT BIG ) NOTICED THERE WERE A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITIES OUT HERE THAT AREN T IN +ENTUCKY h) CAN DO A LOT OUT HERE ˆ THERE ARE JOBS THERE S BASKETBALL AND SCHOOL v SHE SAID h) LOVE BASKETBALL AND IF ) CAN GET WHAT ) NEED TO ACHIEVE MY GOALS THROUGH THE SPORT THEN ) M GOING TO GO FOR IT v /RIGINALLY FROM $ECATUR 'A 2OGERS MOVED TO +ENTUCKY WHICH IS WHERE SHE MET 7ASHINGTON WHILE BOTH WERE ATTENDING "LUEGRASS 4ECHNICAL AND #OMMUNITY #OLLEGE IN ,EXINGTON 4HE TWO MET IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WHERE THEY LIVED ˆ THEY HAVE BEEN FRIENDS EVER SINCE h7E HAVE THINGS IN COMMON v 7ASHINGTON SAID h7E UNDERSTAND WHAT ONE ANOTHER HAVE GONE THROUGH AND WE UPLIFT EACH OTHER (ER PERSONALITY MAKES HER STAND OUT 3HE S GOOFY YET LAID BACK AND A LITTLE BIT QUIET 3HE S A FUN PERSON TO BE AROUND v !LTHOUGH 2OGERS LOVES THE GAME OF BASKETBALL THE YEAR OLD KINESIOLOGY MAJOR SAID HER ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO OWN HER OWN BEAUTY SHOP 3HE PLANS ON EVENTUALLY ATTENDING COSMETOLOGY AND BARBER SCHOOL )N THE MEANTIME SHE DOES HER FRIENDS HAIR AS A HOBBY /THER THAN HAIRDRESSING SCHOOL AND BASKETBALL 2OGERS SAID SHE LIKES TO BE AT HOME WITH HER YEAR OLD DAUGHTER +ENYARI h9ARIv 2OGERS AND HER ROOM MATE #OMET GUARD "RITTANY 'ANDY h7E VE LIVED TOGETHER SINCE A MONTH AFTER SHE CAME TO #ALIFORNIA v 'ANDY SAID h3HE S LIKE MY BIG SISTER v /N THE COURT 2OGERS WAS THE OFFENSIVE FOCAL
POINT FOR THE #OMETS THIS SEASON 4HE FRESHMAN GUARD FINISHED THE SEASON RANKED TH IN THE STATE IN SCORING AVERAGE WITH A "AY 6ALLEY #ONFERENCE LEAD ING POINTS PER GAME )N EIGHT OF THE GAMES SHE PLAYED IN 2OGERS SCORED OVER POINTS HER SEASON HIGH BEING THE POINTS SHE DROPPED IN A SHELLACKING OF 9UBA #OLLEGE ON *AN h4HERE S NOT MUCH SHE CAN T DO v WOMEN S BAS KETBALL COACH 0AUL $E"OLT SAID h3HE S ATHLETIC FAST AND SHE HAS A NICE JUMP SHOT ) VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO TELL WITHIN MINUTES HOW GOOD A PLAYER IS 3HE HAS ALL THE TOOLS TO BE A GREAT PLAYER AT THIS LEVEL v $E"OLT IS THE ONLY WOMEN S BASKETBALL COACH ### HAS HAD SINCE THE TEAM WAS RE ESTABLISHED IN h #OACH $E"OLT AND ) HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP v 2OGERS SAID h) THINK HE THINKS ) GET MAD WHEN HE CHASTISES ME BUT ) DON T (E S THE BEST COACH ) VE EVER HAD (E DOESN T SUGARCOAT ANYTHING ˆ IT S TOUGH LOVE h)F HE WERE TO LEAVE ) DON T THINK ) WOULD BE ABLE TO RETURN v SHE SAID h(E S A GREAT PERSON AND COACH v $E"OLT SAID OTHER THAN THE OCCASIONAL LAPSE IN FOCUS DURING GAMES 2OGERS RANKS WITH SOME OF THE BEST PLAYERS HE HAS COACHED DURING HIS YEARS AT ### h3HE S SUCH A GIFTED PLAYER v HE SAID h7E VE HAD GIFTED ATHLETES IN THIS PROGRAM BEFORE AND SKILL WISE SHE FITS THAT GROUP v $E"OLT SAID 2OGERS HAS PROGRESSED THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE SEASON AND A KEY IN HER DEVELOP MENT WAS THE EMERGENCE OF GUARD !LLYSON 2OBERTS 2OBERTS IMPROVED PLAY AT POINT GUARD ALLOWED 2OGERS TO FOCUS MORE ON HER ROLE AS A SCORER h) VE BEEN WORKING TO IMPROVE ALL SEASON v 2OBERTS SAID h) JUST PICKED IT UP !T ONE POINT EVERYONE WAS TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH BY THEMSELVES ˆ ) JUST GOT PEOPLE INVOLVED v 2OBERTS SAID HER WILLINGNESS TO INVOLVE EVERYONE ON THE COURT ENABLED HER TEAMMATES TO FOCUS ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL ROLES h 2OGERS IS LOOKING TO SCORE FIRST WHICH IS FINE BECAUSE WE NEED SOMEONE LIKE HER ON THE TEAM v 2OGERS ADMITS THAT PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BAS KETBALL IS NOT HER ULTIMATE GOAL 3HE DOES PLAN ON TRANSFERRING TO A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE (ER PLAN IS TO USE THE SPORT AS A CATALYST TO MEET HER EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS ENSURING THE WELLBEING OF HER AND HER DAUGHTER
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3TANDING TALLˆ &RESHMAN GUARD *EWEL 2OGERS POINTS PER GAME LED THE "AY 6ALLEY #ONFERENCE 3HE RANKS TH IN THE STATE
Losing 3QUAD RETURNS TO THE PLAYOFFS streak ends at seven "Y -IKE 4HOMAS 30/243 %$)4/2
MTHOMAS ADVOCATE GMAIL COM
"Y -IKE 4HOMAS 30/243 %$)4/2
MTHOMAS ADVOCATE GMAIL COM
! LATE GAME HOME RUN LED TO THE BASEBALL TEAM S WIN AT (ARTNELL #OLLEGE OVERALL ON 3ATURDAY IN 3ALINAS 4HE #OMETS WIN SNAPPED ITS SEVEN GAME LOSING STREAK $URING HIS LAST AT BAT IN THE TOP OF THE NINTH INNING OUTFIELDER +ORY /DA HIT A TWO RUN HOME RUN TO GIVE ### OVERALL THE LEAD 7ITH THAT HOME RUN HE HIT FOR THE CYCLE FOR THE CONTEST h)T WAS THE TOP OF THE NINTH AND ALL HE NEEDED FOR A CYCLE A SINGLE DOUBLE TRIPLE AND HOMER WAS A HOME RUN v PITCHER 0REJON "YNUM SAID h (E HIT THE HOME RUN AT THE LEAST LIKELY OF TIMES TOO v !SSISTANT COACH )VORY *ONES SAID THAT /DA WAS THE MOST VALU ABLE PLAYER OF THE GAME AND HE CAME THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH /DA ALSO HIT A DOUBLE KNOCKING IN TWO 2")S GIVING THE #OMETS A LEAD IN THE SIXTH h -Y TEAMMATES GOT ON BASE AND ) MADE THE CLUTCH HIT v /DA SAID 4HE #OMETS HAVE BEEN STRUG GLING TO SCORE RUNS THUS FAR THIS SEASON ### WAS SHUT OUT IN ITS FIRST TWO GAMES BECAUSE OF A LACK OF HITTING h/UR PITCHING HAS BEEN EXCEL LENT ALL SEASON BUT WE HAVEN T HAD ANY RUN SUPPORT v #OMET BASEBALL COACH -ARVIN 7EBB SAID h4HE BIG THING IS GETTING OUR OFFENSE GOING h)T FEELS GREAT TO GET OUR FIRST WIN v 7EBB SAID h7E VE BEEN SO CLOSE TO VICTORY EVERY GAME 7E VE BEEN IMPROVING EVERY WEEK AND ) THINK WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONFIDENCE NOW v "YNUM SAID IN PRIOR GAMES THEY WOULD PLAY GREAT BUT ONE BAD INNING WOULD CAUSE THEM TO LOSE THE CONTEST h7E VE BEEN HUNGRY FOR OUR FIRST WIN SO HOPEFULLY THIS SPARKS A STREAK v "YNUM SAID h7E HAVE TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING AND KEEP PLAYING AS A FAMILY v 4HE #OMETS WILL BEGIN CONFER ENCE PLAY AGAINST 9UBA #OLLEGE AT HOME ON 4HURSDAY AT P M
"OUND FOR A SECOND CONSECUTIVE POSTSEASON APPEARANCE THE MEN S BASKETBALL TEAM BEAT 3OLANO #OMMUNITY #OLLEGE OVERALL IN THE "AY 6ALLEY #ONFERENCE ON &RIDAY AT HOME SECURING THE SECOND PLACE SPOT IN THE "6# ### OVERALL "6# COMPLETED ONE OF ITS SEASON GOALS BY MAKING THE PLAYOFFS BUT FAILED TO MEET ANOTHER ˆ EARNING THE TITLE OF CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS h4HAT WAS OUR GOAL v MEN S BASKETBALL COACH -IGUEL *OHNSON SAID h7E WANTED TO GET TO THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN AND WIN A CONFERENCE CHAMPION SHIP BUT FELL A LITTLE SHORT TO 9UBA #OLLEGE v *OHNSON SAID COMING INTO THIS GAME HE WANTED HIS GUYS TO ATTACK THE RIM AND CARRY SOME MOMENTUM INTO THE STATE PLAYOFFS ### WILL OPEN .ORTHERN #ALIFORNIA 2EGIONAL PLAY AT #ABRILLO #OLLEGE &RIDAY AT P M 4HE #OMETS EARNED THE TH SEED IN THE PLAYOFF BRACKET #ABRILLO IS TH
4HE MEN S BASKETBALL TEAM DOMINATED THE &ALCONS IN THE FIRST HALF SHOOTING FROM THE POINT LINE AND CONTROLLING THE PACE WITH SOLID DEFENSE h7E PLAYED DECENT DEFENSE THROUGHOUT THE GAME v SOPHOMORE GUARD *ONATHAN #ALDWELL (UDLEY SAID h7E STUCK TOGETHER AND PLAYED HARD v )N THE SECOND HALF THE #OMETS CAME OUT THINKING THE &ALCONS WERE GOING TO GIVE UP AND STARTED TO STRAY AWAY FROM THEIR GAME PLAN OF ATTACKING THE RIM ### MADE SOME BAD SHOTS SELECTIONS AND BAD PASSES RESULTING IN TURNOVERS ### S MIS CUES ALLOWED 3## TO GAIN SOME MOMENTUM AT THE BEGINNING OF SECOND HALF h4EAMS MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND WE CAME OUT A LITTLE LACKADAISICAL v *OHNSON SAID 3OPHOMORE FORWARD 4YLER 7EST *R AGREED h7E JUST HAD TO RE FOCUS IN THE SECOND HALF v HE SAID h4HEY CAME OUT WITH NOTHING TO LOSE v 4HE #OMETS EVENTUALLY PICKED UP THE DEFEN SIVE INTENSITY CREATING TURNOVERS AND INCREASING THEIR LEAD 'OING INTO THE PLAYOFFS ### HOPES
TO ELIMI ScoreBoard NATE LACKA D A I S I C A L #OMETS PLAY WHEN &ALCONS HOLDING A LARGE LEAD .EXT GAME #ALDWELL &RIDAY AT #ABRILLO ( U D L E Y #OLLEGE P M SAID THEY &OLLOW THIS GAME LIVE AT RELAXED AND TWITTER COM ACCENTADVOCATE T H O U G H T 3OLANO WAS GOING TO LIE DOWN IN THE SECOND HALF h7E HAVE TO COME OUT STRONGER NEXT TIME v (E SAID 4AKING THE POSTSEASON ONE GAME AT A TIME IS THE TEAM S MIND SET !FTER COMING UP SHORT AGAINST #ITY #OLLEGE OF 3AN &RANCISCO IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE .OR#AL PLAYOFFS LAST SEA SON SOPHOMORE GUARD *USTIN 0OLLARD SAID IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS h) M JUST READY TO PLAY v HE SAID 4HE #OMETS SAID THEIR SUCCESS THIS POST SEASON IS DEPENDING ON HOW WELL THE TEAM EXECUTES
Winning streak, year end in close defeat "Y -IKE 4HOMAS 30/243 %$)4/2
MTHOMAS ADVOCATE GMAIL COM
-ISSED FREE THROWS DOOMED THE WOM EN S BASKETBALL TEAM &RIDAY AGAINST 3OLANO #OMMUNITY #OLLEGE OVERALL IN THE "AY 6ALLEY #ONFERENCE LOSING AT HOME 4HIS WAS THE #OMETS OVERALL "6# FINAL GAME OF THE SEASON AND THE LOSS SNAPPED THEIR FOUR GAME WINNING STREAK 4HE WIN GAVE 3## ITS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE WIN AGAINST THE #OMETS 7OMEN S BASKETBALL COACH 0AUL $E"OLT SAID EVEN THOUGH #ONTRA #OSTA #OLLEGE DID NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS HE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO END THE SEASON ON A FIVE GAME WINNING STREAK h7E MUST HAVE SPENT MINUTES PRACTIC ING FREE THROWS THE DAY BEFORE THE GAME v $E"OLT SAID h)T S FRUSTRATING FOR EVERYONE -ISSED FREE THROWS COST US THE GAME FOR SURE v 4HE #OMETS WENT FROM THE FREE THROW LINE IN THE FIRST HALF BUT STILL HELD A HALFTIME LEAD OVER THE &ALCONS ### SHOT OVERALL ON FREE THROWS ATTEMPTS -ISSED FREE THROWS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM THE ENTIRE SEASON 4HE #OMETS FINAL POSSESSION ENDED WITH A BAD PASS RESULTING IN A TURNOVER WITH SECONDS LEFT IN THE GAME h7E HAD A MENTAL LAPSE LATE IN THE GAME v $E"OLT SAID h4HEY WENT ON A NICE SCORING RUN AND GOT DEFENSIVE STOPS AGAINST US v
4HROUGHOUT THE GAME ### BUILT LEADS ONLY TO WATCH THEM DISAPPEAR AS 3## BATTLED BACK h7E WERE RUSHING OUR SHOTS AND NOT BEING PATIENT v FRESHMAN FORWARD *EANNAY ScoreBoard 7ASHINGTON SAID )N THE SECOND HALF &ALCONS THE WOMEN S BASKET #OMETS BALL SQUAD WAS HELD TO ONLY SIX FIELD 3EASON OVER GOALS ˆ THE REST OF OVERALL ITS POINTS CAME FROM IN "6# FREE THROW ATTEMPTS 7HEN THE &ALCONS WERE MAKING THEIR COME BACK $E"OLT USED THE FULL COURT PRESS TO TRY TO CREATE POINTS OFF OF TURNOVERS (IS PLAN DID NOT WORK h) THINK WE SHOULD HAVE CHANGED OUR OFFENSE A LITTLE MORE WHEN THEY STARTED TO FIGURE US OUT v SOPHOMORE GUARD !LLYSON 2OBERTS SAID h7E WERE PANICKING WHEN THEY CAME BACK v 2OBERTS HAD A HUGE FIRST HALF SCORING POINTS AND MAKING A BUZZER BEATING POINT SHOT TO EXTEND THE ### LEAD 4HE LEADING SCORER FOR THE #OMETS WAS -ARQUISHA *ELINEK WHO SCORED POINTS 4HE #OMETS HAD THE LEAD THROUGHOUT THE GAME AND HAD CHANCES IN THE FINAL SECONDS TO WIN BUT COULD NOT FINISH h7HEN YOU ARE AHEAD PERCENT OF THE GAME AND LOSE ITS FRUSTRATING v $E"OLT SAID h9OU HAVE TO GIVE 3## CREDIT 4HEY HUNG IN THERE v
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$RIVE ˆ #OMET GUARD !LLYSON 2OBERTS CHAL LENGES &ALCON GUARD 4AYLOR (AMILTON DURING A GAME AGAINST 3OLANO #OMMUNITY #OLLEGE IN THE 'YMNASIUM ON &RIDAY ### WAS DEFEATED