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Cerro Coso survives in Monday win

By Cheeto Barrera, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

“I don't think I've ever won a game on a 19-0 run...”

The Coyotes may have had an ACME safe drop on their heads in the second half, but it was the Roadrunners who fell off the cliff at game's end as Cerro Coso edged out Rio Hondo College 66-62.

The Lady Coyotes were on the wrong end of a 19-0 scoring run, but were able to regain their composure to survive the second half, thanks in large part to defensive pressure and Rio Hondo gifts.

Cerro Coso had taken a 7-2 scoring run to start the second half and held on to a 39-28 lead.

But then the wheels came off of the Coyotes offense and the defense followed suit.

When the dust settled, Cerro Coso was trailing 47-39.

Coach Tom Heck said he didn't realize how bad the game was getting, but was thankful that his team was able to come away with the win.

“I don't think I've ever won a game on a 19-0 run,” Heck said. “Any time you're on a 19-0 run and you're on the opposite end and you win the game, things aren't looking all bad.”

Fortunately for the Lady Coyotes, the ACME products didn't continue to backfire and the large rock actually did what it was supposed to against the Roadrunners.

After a Heck time-out, the composure seemed to come back, aided by Rio Hondo turnovers, missed shots and untimely fouls.

“We didn't shoot very well from the perimeter, but we made some good steals ourselves and got some lay-ups off those steals,” Heck said.

Dar'Shelle Lynch finally put a stop to the bleeding when she scored on a LaShonda Jones steal.

After a back and forth battle, the Coyotes took a 56-54 lead and stayed in the driver's seat the remainder of the way.

Lynette Dineyazhe hit the back breaker with her only 3-point shot of the night.

“We finally came back and got our composure,” “Lynette Dineyazhe was really struggling from the perimeter. She was one for 10, but the one worked. It put us up by four.”

Lynch led the way with 28 points and was followed by Angel Lash who had 16 points on the night.

Heck also gave credit to Brittany Graybill for her effort on the night, collecting six boards and her nine points, including a shot to beat the buzzer in the first half.

He said that one of the keys to beating down Rio Hondo's scrappy efforts on both sides of the ball was just going toe-to-toe with the Roadrunners.

“We had to go out and try to get people,” Heck said. “Fortunately we did a decent job in the second half on the boards. Brittany Graybill, giver her credit, she's got back problems and she played - she's gutting it out. What can I say, I've got a lot of respect for her going out there and playing hard.”

The win came on the heals of a tough battle against one of the best teams in the Foothill Conference.

The Coyotes lost 78-57 to Antelope Valley College, ranked No. 6 in Southern California.

“We played a very good game, we played almost as well as we can play,” Heck said.

Ashley Logan led the way with 18 points and eight rebounds in the effort.

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

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