Ramona’s Girls Meet Highland

The third-seeded Ramona High School girls’ basketball team will take its first step in the Southern California Division III regionals tonight at 7 when it will play host to second-seeded Bakersfield Highland in what is affectionately known to Ramona fans as the Dawghouse.

Though Highland is only 7-14 this season, Ramona Coach Joe Bess knows that anything can happen come tournament time.

“I thought we played a decent game Friday (a 41-23 San Diego Section Division III championship victory over Lincoln), but we still need to improve,” said Bess of his 18-7 team. “We’re going to have to get better because it’s going to get tougher down the road.”

Bess will look for continued leadership from 6-foot center Meleea Van Patten and 6-foot forward Kris Miller, the Bulldogs’ two leading scorers.