Women’s Basketball falls to Cerritos College in the 1st round of Regional Playoffs
The season concluded for the women’s basketball team as their fourth quarter rally fell short against the Cerritos Falcons in what would end up being their first and only playoff game during the 2018-2019 season.
Capped by a three-pointer from Citrus sophomore Diana Navarro, the Owls went on an 11-0 scoring run to narrow their deficit to single digits in the closing minutes of the final quarter.
The dominance by the Owls during the run was not exerted up to this point as their deficit had jumped to as many as 20 points in the second half.
The Eagles had a steady lead throughout the game, appearing to be the superior team.
However late in the game, jumpers were not falling for Cerritos.
The Falcons shot a sloppy 0-for-6 during a stretch of four minutes in the fourth quarter when the Owls held Falcons scoreless.
The away fans sporting orange and navy blue overtook the crowd with their cheers and chants as Citrus continued on their streak.
But just as the momentum seemed to be going Citrus’ way, Cerritos Falcons center Carolina Cuevas snatched a rebound off a missed lay-up with 3:10 left in the game and put it back up for a bucket of her own.
Cuevas’ basket ended the over four minute scoring drought for Cerritos.
It was at this point in the game when the momentum and energy shifted back to the Falcons, putting an end to the intensity of the away crowds cheering, shouting and noticeable energy.
Cerritos sophomore Jesenia Rendon swished a three-pointer with just under two minutes left to play, adding to her already successful night from downtown.
Rendon was the star of the night, scoring 27 points, sinking five from beyond the arc in addition to six assists and six rebounds.
She made multiple baskets that prevented Citrus from making any sort of comeback at several moments throughout the game, especially in the first half to maintain a steady lead for her Falcons.
Regardless of the Owls’ attempt to suppress Rendon, she was a dominant factor in all facets of the game whether it be scoring, passing or rebounding.
She lead her team from the get-go without letting off the gas pedal, inserting a few flashy spin moves and fancy dribble-drives.
Rendon’s outside jumper in the fourth quarter was the nail in the coffin, putting the Falcons up 14 points with little time left on the clock.
As time ran out, so did the gas in the tank for the Owls.
The final play of the game was a nifty and-one conversion by Citrus guard Malia Rocha, bringing the final score to a total of 72-61 in favor of the Cerritos Falcons.
Citrus struggled all night long, holding onto possession of the ball as they tallied 16 turnovers.
The bright spots for Citrus came from Diana Navarro and Kyannie Brown.
Navarro totaled 26 points, four rebounds and two steals in addition to recording five threes.
Brown, one of the top scorers in the conference, ended up with a double-double, grabbing 11 boards along with 14 points.
The Falcons ultimately won, moving on to the second round of the regional tournament as the No. 16 seed.
Even though the result was not what she had hoped for, Owls head coach Linnae Barber still viewed the day as a victory in her eyes.
“For me we didn’t lose, we won and we won all year,” Barber said. “For me, we have been undefeated all year. I’ve started with nine (players) and I finished with nine.”
Despite the difficult postseason loss, she is still proud of the team’s effort.
“I’m damn proud of the performance they finished off with … we still fought and we fought to the end,” Barber said.
She lead her team to an overall record of 18-11. They only dropped one game at home all year long and finished second in conference play.
Barber said she appreciated the effort and hard work her players demonstrated from the moment they arrived.
“We have fought since day one, and for me as a coach it’s always been more than basketball…it’s been about your passion and your purpose and believing in yourself,” Barber said.
Over the course of the season, Barber said she saw growth on- and off-court from all of her athletes.
“My girls know what they want to become, and for me they went out with a fight, and their fight was for their purpose in life, and that was to play at the next level and go to school and figure out the journey they wanted for their career,” Barber said. “And they showed that.”
These life lessons and connections throughout the season are what Barber appreciated most about the season.
She also said she enjoyed helping out her student-athletes with life in addition helping the girls develop plans about their future.
“You can play basketball, and then when you’re done what are you going to do with your life … I knew that’s why I wanted to become a head coach, to give back to these kids,” Barber said.
The main point of Barber’s closing message to her team in the locker room was to remember the memories they created and the accomplishments they made.
“Remember me in your face, saying ‘don’t you ever stop, don’t you ever let nobody tell you no, you know how to fight and you know how to go through battles and adversity and all those things,’” Barber told the team.
She said this team and their personal life stories fueled their fire and play.
“These girls have a story, and they display that when you see them play because they are playing with passion because of the things they have been through with their upbringings,” Barber said.
The head coach hopes the lessons learned and the obstacles they overcame will be aids in their future.
“I’m really big on life…we’re doing so much that a lot of people wish that they could do and they can’t, and you’re very fortunate to still play basketball especially at the junior college level, and so now they are able to create a way for their future and not have the same upbringing that they had but change that for their kids and their families,” Barber said.
Next season will be a tough task for Barber as she only has three returning players on her current roster.
She is excited about the challenge to build the program and develop her young players.
“Oh I can’t wait, I got a lot of work to do but I’m excited,” Barber said. “Two of them are not that good, but they know it and I’m excited because I want to see what I can do with that. As a coach, yeah, you can get talent but then what about kids that aren’t that good and you challenge them and they get better and by the end of the year you’re like dang you’re pretty good now.”
The message to the freshman that will be returning next year was to be excited to develop and carry the team as leaders next year.
One of the returning players, Kaylene Brown, the younger sister of the aforementioned Kyannie, is excited to prepare for the upcoming season.
“It’s going to be my moment to shine and it’s going be like my time it’s going to be my sophomore year and my team next year so I need to show what I can do,” Brown said.
The Owls may have lost the contest against Cerritos but the season, as a whole, was a win for everyone involved at Citrus.
“The loss is on my record but the W is for these girls and for me, I won,” coach Barber said.
