Local stars return, Raiders feeling jinxed

Hillsdale's Tiger Making The Grade- Bill Wilken, Hillsdale High School's Athletic Director, reports that Nancy Dinges, Class of 2000, is representing the peninsula well at University of the Pacific. Dinges, a 5'10" small forward, earned a full scholarship for her outstanding shooting, but UOP Women's Basketball Coach Sherri Murrell tells me that Dinges has proven to be an excellent defender and rebounder as well. Coach Murrell says that Dinges worked hard in earning a starting spot in their first two preseason games, but is struggling to get the jitters out. Against NWBL, made up mostly of former Division 1 NCAA players, Dinges shot 4 for 8, had 5 rebounds and 2 steals in just 14 minutes (it was a blowout). She followed that with a 12 point, 4 rebound performance in 23 minutes. "She's still adjusting to the college game," explains Murrell, "She just needs to build up her confidence with a breakout game." Murrell points to a scrimmage the Lady Tigers played against a group of college men in which Dinges scored 23 points as an example of how lethal she can be when relaxed. UOP plays Santa Clara University this Saturday, 11/18 at 8 p.m. Dinges is slated to start and, ironically, was also heavily recruited by the Broncos. Due to construction work at Santa Clara, the game will be played at San Jose's Bellarmine College Prep.

Carlmont Has Its Own Tiger - UOP boasts of a second peninsula product, junior point guard Selena Ho. Saying that Ho, a Carlmont High grad, has made it big in Stockton is an understatement. She is considered one of the top point guards in the country, averaging 14 points and 8 assists while ranking in the top 10 nationally in 3 point shooting percentage. Ho has also been honored as the Big West Conference's Freshman of the Year. Obviously, Ho will start against Santa Clara this weekend as well.