With the Western State Conference season fast approaching, the Lady Raiders’ basketball team has secured a 9-7 overall winning record. Their preseason play included taking the championship at the Antelope Valley Tournament and second in the Santa Ana Tournament.
“It has been a very challenging schedule,” said Head Coach Remy McCarthy. “We have faced some very strong teams.”
Of the teams the Raiders have faced, several have played close games against the three-time state champions Mt. San Antonio College. A rival of the Lady Raiders in the WSC, L.A. Pierce College, beat them during this preseason.
“We played a lot of really good teams and we want to go forth and do better in conference, but we’re not off to a bad start,” said sophomore guard Sam McCarthy.
Anticipation is high among players and coaches for the conference season to get underway. The intensity has been up at practice and any mistakes made within their preseason games are emphasized and corrected while they continue to prepare for the WSC.
“We’re still working out the kinks and everything, but we’re doing really well,” said McCarthy.
As both the Men’s and Women’s Basketball coach this season, Coach McCarthy has a unique approach to the game and he passes it along to his players. It is not only to take one game at a time, but forget about the past and focus on the future.
“Winning or losing can have its ill effects when they carry over and we can’t let that happen, because every game is going to present a new challenge and we just need to move to that next game,” said Coach McCarthy.
On Wednesday, the Lady Raiders hosted Allan Hancock at Raider Pavilion for their WSC season opening. They took their first conference victory 65-52. At the half the Raiders led 29-24, but it was the Bulldogs who took the next seven points and then led 31-29. After this wake up, the Lady Raiders got back into their groove and took their victory, scoring 36-28 in the second half.
“It’s just really going to be a very, very challenging conference; but we [have] a solid team,” said Coach McCarthy.
The Lady Raiders now have a 10-7 overall record and are 1-0 in the WSC. They will be traveling to L.A. Pierce College for their second WSC game of the season.
