Warriors Continue to Improve

Woodbridge girls’ basketball Coach Eric Bangs said his team needed to improve this week, and it did so in a couple of easy, early victories in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.

Then Thursday night, the Warriors got a chance to play full-bore against a team that was, if not its equal, at least competitive.

Woodbridge, ranked No. 1 in Orange County, scored a 57-40 victory over Chino to advance to the tournament championship, but it was a closer game than the score indicated.

Chino trailed by only four points one minute into the fourth quarter, but baskets from 17 and 18 feet by Tami Weaver--who had scored only three points the first three quarters--sparked a 14-2 run over the final 5 minutes 30 seconds, during which Chino didn’t make a field goal.

“I wouldn’t mind a close game to get us tougher,” Bangs said before his team improved its record to 8-0.

Chino made two runs at Woodbridge, cutting an 18-7 margin to 18-17 in the second quarter before Krissy Duperron went on a 10-point scoring binge. The Warriors led at halftime, 33-21.

Part of the credit goes to Carly Moss, who spent most of the night guarding Rasheeda Clark, the highly recruited Chino standout averaging 17 points per game.

Clark had only six points at halftime, making only two of 10 shots with Moss in her face. Clark finished with 15.

Another run came late in the third quarter and early in the fourth when Chino cut the halftime lead from 12 to four, 40-36. Then Melanie Pearson scored on a drive, Duperron made a free throw and Weaver connected with her long baskets. And the rout--once again--was on.