Brea’s McDaniel Holds Her Head High in Loss

Long after the tears were gone and the pain of a perfect season gone sour had subsided, Aimee McDaniel emerged from the Brea-Olinda locker room wearing pink slippers.

“Sorry, but I’m not much of a morning person,” All-American guard said. “I’m usually half-asleep in my first three classes at school. I just can’t seem to get going in the morning.”

Neither could the Brea-Olinda girls’ basketball team during the State Division III championship game Saturday morning at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

The defending state champions made only 15 of 45 shots and were outrebounded, 46-23, in a 54-43 loss to Auburn Placer.

The loss was the first for Brea-Olinda since December, 1988, when the Lady Cats were defeated by Coney, Me., in the Christ the King Tournament in New York. It was Brea-Olinda’s first loss to a California team since losing to Los Altos in January, 1987.

After winning 55 consecutive games, Brea-Olinda’s players had problems dealing with defeat. Guard Tammy Blackburn burst into tears as she went to the bench after commiting her fifth foul with 1:08 remaining and Brea-Olinda trailing, 50-43.

“They were all crying before the buzzer,” said Mark Trakh, Brea-Olinda coach. “The emotion of losing after 55 games got to all of them. I’ve always told my players that accepting defeat is part of being a winner.”

McDaniel was the only starter who played well for Brea-Olinda, scoring 22 points, including 19 in the first half.

“I have no complaints,” McDaniel said. “These four years have been the greatest. It’s not fair to focus on the last game. We went 55-0 and that’s something no one can ever take away from me.

“It’s sad it had to end this way. But you have to take things in stride. You can’t take a loss like this too seriously. I know some are hurting inside, but I have no complaints.

“I thought I had my best half that I’ve ever had. I didn’t think a half like that was possible. When I look back, I’ll always remember what a great four years this has been.”