TheLounge
01-30-2008, 02:25 PM
In just two short seasons, the Skyline women’s basketball team has already become a player in Northern California and has already earned the respect of opposing coaches staffs. In only its second season of existence, the Trojans cracked the top-15 coaches’ poll in northern part of the state, compiling a 15-7 record and a 2-2 mark in the tough Coast Conference.
“That’s big for us,” said Skyline women’s coach Trisha Hosley. “If we can stay in third place (in conference) then I think we have a good shot at making [the playoffs].”
The Trojans are percentage points behind third-place Chabot, having played (and lost) one more game than the Gladiators. The Trojans have eight games left, including Wednesday at Cabrillo and Friday in a county showdown with College of San Mateo.
Despite a 14-14 campaign last season, a coaching change in the off season could have been doom. Instead, the Trojans — guided by Hosley who was an assistant last year — have already eclipsed last season’s overall win total and equaled last year’s conference win record.
“I knew we had the talent,” Hosley said. “What I had to learn were the other teams.”
Hosley said she takes a game-by-game approach, breaking down film of the next opponent before looking to the next game. That approach appears to be working because the Trojans have been competitive in nearly every game this year.
It helps to have one of the best backcourt tandems in Northern California leading your team. Sophomores Marie Colon and Esmeralda Lopez-Rivas fill up the stat box. The two combine for 35.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, seven assists and nearly five steals per game. Colon is the best regular free-throw shooter in the state, shooting 86 percent —*connecting on 110 of 127 attempts.
What has propelled the Trojans in the rankings is the emergence of freshman foward Adele Faatuai and first-year guard Jennifer Matawaran. Faatuai is third on the team in scoring at 8.9 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with over 7 boards per game. Matawaran averages 8.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
Hosley admits being a ranked team in Northern California is heady stuff, but the Trojans are not content. They are looking to crack the state’s top-25 poll, which would all but guarantee a spot in the Northern California playoffs. A strong run to end the season might get them there.
“We look at this (top-15 ranking) as fun. [The kids have] a lot of pride. If we fall, we can climb back up,” Hosley said. “We’re in such a tough conference, if we can win most of them (our remaining eight games), we’ll be in the top 25.”
***
I almost hate to comment on the Peninsula Athletic League’s girls’ soccer races because I don’t want to jinx anyone …
But…
Barring a late-season miracle, it appears Carlmont’s run of eight straight Bay Division titles is coming to an end an Burlingame is poised to finally get over the hump and past the Scots. The Panthers are working on an undefeated season — both overall and in league play —*and with only four games left have a three-point lead over Carlmont, which has lost twice already this season.
Burlingame can all but ice the division with a win over Carlmont next Tuesday, but any slips between now and then could be disastrous —*for either team.
What’s going to be real interesting is the race for third place and the division’s last automatic Central Coast Section playoff spot. Both Aragon and Woodside have 23 points. The team’s split their season series but Woodside has seven league wins to six for Aragon.
The Ocean Division is shaping up for an even better sprint to the finish. With four games left, four teams still have a shot at the division title and an automatic CCS bid. Mills is currently on top with 22 points (7-2-1). The Vikings are being chased, however, by South City (6-3-0), Capuchino (5-0-3) and Hillsdale (5-0-3) —*all of which have 18 points.
Mills actually has the toughest schedule coming down the stretch. The Vikings face all three teams chasing them —*they played arch-rival Capuchino today, face South City Thursday, take on fourth-place Half Moon Bay (13 points) and finish the regular season against Hillsdale.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.
“That’s big for us,” said Skyline women’s coach Trisha Hosley. “If we can stay in third place (in conference) then I think we have a good shot at making [the playoffs].”
The Trojans are percentage points behind third-place Chabot, having played (and lost) one more game than the Gladiators. The Trojans have eight games left, including Wednesday at Cabrillo and Friday in a county showdown with College of San Mateo.
Despite a 14-14 campaign last season, a coaching change in the off season could have been doom. Instead, the Trojans — guided by Hosley who was an assistant last year — have already eclipsed last season’s overall win total and equaled last year’s conference win record.
“I knew we had the talent,” Hosley said. “What I had to learn were the other teams.”
Hosley said she takes a game-by-game approach, breaking down film of the next opponent before looking to the next game. That approach appears to be working because the Trojans have been competitive in nearly every game this year.
It helps to have one of the best backcourt tandems in Northern California leading your team. Sophomores Marie Colon and Esmeralda Lopez-Rivas fill up the stat box. The two combine for 35.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, seven assists and nearly five steals per game. Colon is the best regular free-throw shooter in the state, shooting 86 percent —*connecting on 110 of 127 attempts.
What has propelled the Trojans in the rankings is the emergence of freshman foward Adele Faatuai and first-year guard Jennifer Matawaran. Faatuai is third on the team in scoring at 8.9 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with over 7 boards per game. Matawaran averages 8.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
Hosley admits being a ranked team in Northern California is heady stuff, but the Trojans are not content. They are looking to crack the state’s top-25 poll, which would all but guarantee a spot in the Northern California playoffs. A strong run to end the season might get them there.
“We look at this (top-15 ranking) as fun. [The kids have] a lot of pride. If we fall, we can climb back up,” Hosley said. “We’re in such a tough conference, if we can win most of them (our remaining eight games), we’ll be in the top 25.”
***
I almost hate to comment on the Peninsula Athletic League’s girls’ soccer races because I don’t want to jinx anyone …
But…
Barring a late-season miracle, it appears Carlmont’s run of eight straight Bay Division titles is coming to an end an Burlingame is poised to finally get over the hump and past the Scots. The Panthers are working on an undefeated season — both overall and in league play —*and with only four games left have a three-point lead over Carlmont, which has lost twice already this season.
Burlingame can all but ice the division with a win over Carlmont next Tuesday, but any slips between now and then could be disastrous —*for either team.
What’s going to be real interesting is the race for third place and the division’s last automatic Central Coast Section playoff spot. Both Aragon and Woodside have 23 points. The team’s split their season series but Woodside has seven league wins to six for Aragon.
The Ocean Division is shaping up for an even better sprint to the finish. With four games left, four teams still have a shot at the division title and an automatic CCS bid. Mills is currently on top with 22 points (7-2-1). The Vikings are being chased, however, by South City (6-3-0), Capuchino (5-0-3) and Hillsdale (5-0-3) —*all of which have 18 points.
Mills actually has the toughest schedule coming down the stretch. The Vikings face all three teams chasing them —*they played arch-rival Capuchino today, face South City Thursday, take on fourth-place Half Moon Bay (13 points) and finish the regular season against Hillsdale.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.