Glendale Community College women’s basketball reels in plenty of local talent
Glendale Community College women’s basketball head coach Carrie Miller talks play strategy during practice on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015.
In recent seasons, the Glendale Community College women’s basketball team hasn’t recruited too many local players.
Glendale Coach Carrie Miller, in her sixth year, planned to reverse that trend after last season. Miller and her assistants attended many area high school games and jotted down the names of some players who had the potential to be a good fit for the Vaqueros.
With its season set to start at 7 p.m. Friday against Riverside in the Riverside Tournament, Glendale will now have five local athletes in the mix.
Katia Dabbaghian just gets by the defense of teammate Emelie Torndahl at a Glendale Community College women’s basketball practice on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015.
“In the past few seasons, we’ve brought in players from around Los Angeles and surrounding areas,” said Miller, whose team finished 13-15, 7-7 in the Western State Conference South Division last season. “We want to try to keep the local kids here and show them what we are about and the opportunities they might have.
“We had some good connections with the local schools and we went out and brought in some players who can be key pieces.”
Perhaps the biggest recruit was Katia Dabbaghian, a four-time All-CIF honoree who starred at guard at Providence. She averaged 14.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game last season en route to being selected All-Liberty League Most Valuable Player.
“We were very lucky to get Katia,” Miller said. “Most players at a school like Providence go to a four-year school. We’re excited about having her here.”
Dabbaghian will be a projected starter, along with guard Paulina Glaviano and forwards Halia Kekahuna (Crescenta Valley), Maria Quejada and Golinaz Velashjerdi.
The other local players are guards Destiny Contreras (Burroughs), Luna Panosian (Hoover) and Janel Adraneda (Providence).
“We’re going to be a very young team,” Miller said. “We only have three sophomores, but we feel like we have plenty of talent and depth.
“They have the potential to do some good things. It’s just a matter of getting used to the next level and playing our system. Once they get it, they’ll be successful.”
Glendale, which last qualified for the postseason in 2003, will take part in five tournaments through Dec. 20. The Vaqueros will host a tournament, in addition to participating in tournaments from San Diego to Visalia.
Maria Quejada, right, battles on the floor for the ball against teammate Deanna Gordillo at a Glendale Community College women’s basketball practice on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015.
The eight-team Vaquero Shootout will run Nov. 19-21 and will feature Pasadena, Fullerton, Ventura, Antelope Valley, Cerritos, Santa Barbara and College of the Desert. Glendale will begin the event against Desert at 7 p.m. Nov. 19. The tournament’s championship contest will start at 4 p.m. Nov. 21.
Glendale will tip off conference play at 5 p.m. Jan. 6 on the road against Antelope Valley. Its conference home opener will begin at 3 p.m. Jan. 9 against West L.A. The Vaqueros will finish the regular season at 3 p.m. Feb. 20 on the road against L.A. Valley.
Bakersfield won the division last season, going 11-3 and advancing to the third round of the Southern California Regional. It was joined in the postseason by Santa Monica and Antelope Valley.
“By the time conference starts, we’ll definitely have a better idea where we stand,” Miller said. “It will be a very tough [division] again.”
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Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
