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Depleted Lady Coyotes come up just short in Barstow

By Kyle Kensing, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

“The kids we have available have been playing hard, and some of those are playing hurt...”

Cerro Coso battled more than just the Barstow College Lady Vikings Monday night on the road.

The Lady Coyotes (13-5, 2-2 Foothill Conference) also faced the effects of a depleted roster, suiting up six players in the 75-62 loss.

The Lady Coyotes kept it close early, without the assistance of the previous game's high scorer, Paris Allen.

Allen, whose 28 points sparked Cerro Coso to a 76-54 win Saturday at Rio Hondo, was out due to a family committment.

Cerro Coso trailed by a single bucket at halftime, but Barstow built an insurmountable lead with a 12-2 run to open the second stanza.

Angel Lash and Mariah Bomberry helped Cerro Coso keep pace with 25 and 21 points respectively, but it wasn't enough.

The Lady Coyotes' lack of depth hindered the comeback effort, said head coach Tom Heck.

“I've been coaching for 20 years and I've never had any team with the physical problems we've had this season,” he said.

Those “physical problems” have hampered the Lady Coyotes to the tune of five players currently on the disabled list, three of whom - Brenda Cantrell, Brittany Graybill, and Christy Marshall - are out for the season.

“The kids we have available have been playing hard, and some of those are playing hurt,” Heck said.

The Barstow loss marks the end of a 12-game road swing for the Lady Coyotes, who return home Saturday at 6 p.m. for a Foothill region date with Mt. San Jacinto.

The Lady Eagles are undefeated in conference play.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

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