Coyote Athletics : Women's Basketball : Headlines

Cerro Coso ends season with loss to COD

By Cheeto Barrera, Sports Editor, The Daily Independent

"I guess it’s safe to say, this is the ultimate challenge."

The Cerro Coso women’s basketball team concluded its season on Saturday, dropping a 54-49 decision to College of the Desert at the McCue Center.

The loss left the Lady Coyotes, who played almost every game since Christmas with five players, winless in the Foothill Conference.

“To play with only five players in the toughest conference in the state, and live to tell about it, is just incredible,” said coach Tom Heck. “I’ve been coaching on the college level for over 20 years, and it’s on of the most amazing things I’ve ever been a part of; however, I wouldn’t want to do it again.”

The Coyotes lost 14-straight games, nine of which came against ranked teams.

“Our (conference) is now ridiculously good,” Heck said, citing the fact that five of the teams in the Foothill are ranked in the top 10 in Southern California.

“I told our kids that even if we had 20 players, losing to these teams is no shame,” Heck said.

The Coyotes played with one sophomore, four freshmen and suited up the team manger for several games at the end.

“No doubt about it, we’ve had more than our share of bad luck losing players, and this year was no exception,” Heck said.
Kara Greymountain, the team’s lone sophomore, was named to the third-team All Foothill Conference and freshman Bianca Jordan was given an honorable mention.

Other freshmen included Eunie Walker, Sieddah Blair, Samantha Lucus and team manager Ronita Walker.

In the COD game, the Coyotes trailed by 12 at the half and came all the way back to take a three-point lead with four minutes left before running out of gas.

Greymountain had two chances in the last minute to tie the game, but the ball didn’t fall in.

“We had our share of opportunities to win, but as I’ve said all along, in our situation, it takes a perfect game to win,” Heck said.

Coso finishes the season with a 4-22 overall record.

Heck has already started looking to next year in hopes of padding his roster with the four freshmen who may be returning.
He’s sent out more than 250 recruiting packets to players in California and neighboring states.

“My wish list is to get some local kids and get our recruiting boundary changed so I have a better chance to get in-state kids and be able to put 12 in uniform next year,” Heck said. “With the top teams in our Conference running full-time enrollments of near 20,000 and well over 20,000, it won’t get easier. I guess it’s safe to say, this is the ultimate challenge.”

Wed Feb 25, 2009

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