Rebuilding Holy Family basketball falls to Ramona Convent
GLENDALE — For about seven minutes following the conclusion of its game, Holy Family basketball coach Greg Ziomek addressed his team while they sat on the bench.
Ziomek briefly discussed some of the positives and negatives that had occurred during Holy Family’s 34-24 Horizon League home loss against Ramona Convent on Thursday at Pacific Park Community Center.
It’s something that Ziomek has done regularly during the season with the rebuilding squad.
“We go over some of the different things we did during our games and it’s a learning process for many of our players,” Ziomek said. “We talk about not playing as individuals and we don’t have that one go-to player.
“So, we have to find ways to share the ball to be productive. We have to keep learning about the organizational structure in terms of playing as a unit. If you can do that, then it allows them to cultivate their skills and develop more confidence in their abilities.”
Holy Family (2-8, 2-2 in league) scored just three points — all by Kyla Yumang — in the fourth quarter and had trouble trying to figure out Ramona Convent (12-9, 3-1).
Ramona Convent held a 29-21 lead after the third quarter. Yumang brought the Gaels to within 31-22 with a free throw with 4:10 remaining in the fourth quarter. Yumang scored the Gaels only basket on a layup with 10 seconds left to close out the scoring.
“There’s been a pattern throughout the season where we start to get good in games and then something happens and we have breakdowns,” said Yamang, a junior who finished with five points, 10 rebounds and three steals. “We do have a pretty young team and we have some players who don’t have that much experience.
“We are trying to make progress every game and we have at times. You just have to keep going.”
Holy Family, which finished fourth in league last season, received a team-high eight points from Kaitlyn Vizcarra and seven rebounds and three steals from Michelle Barraza.
The Tigers never trailed, building a 12-2 lead after the first quarter.
Ramona Convent got a basket from Natalie Martinez with 30 seconds to go in the first quarter to complete a 7-0 run.
Ramona Convent’s Kim Rivera (12 points and 10 rebounds) scored just before the buzzer sounded to end the half to make it 22-13.
Holy Family pulled to within 25-20 on a basket by Barraza with 1:28 left in the third quarter, yet couldn’t get any closer the remainder of the contest.
“That was one of the keys when we got it down to five points in the third quarter,” Ziomek said. “We just couldn’t get any momentum going after that.
“We missed a lot of free throws and had some turnovers at key times.”
Martinez finished with eight points and four steals for the Tigers, who got five points from Alyssa Savala.
The Gaels and Tigers will meet again Jan. 31 at Ramona Convent.
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
