The Moorpark Raiders repeated as conference champions Saturday afternoon as sophomore guard Bree Calhoun led the team to their fifteenth straight win in the Raiders 69-54 victory over Ventura College.
Calhoun scored 18 points to go along with six rebounds, six assists and another lock-down display on defense collecting five steals against the Ventura Pirates. Guard Cece Quintino led the Pirates with 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Calhoun took pride in her role as a leader and floor general on the team.
“I’m a pass-first point guard and I make sure to get my teammates involved and to have us all on the same page,” Calhoun said.
The Moorpark Raiders look like a super-team in conference play so far as they are undefeated at 6-0 and have had only one game decided by less than 10 points. That game was the first match-up against Ventura, which ended in a 71-62 victory after guards Calhoun and Britt Van Buren combined for 48 points, 12 rebounds and seven steals.
Calhoun was asked how the team has been able to remain successful. “The chemistry we share on and off the court I think is the biggest thing and we all share the same goals,” Calhoun said.
This rematch against Ventura came with some extra motivation for the Raiders since a conflict occurred in their first meeting. After sophomore guard Jazzy Carrasco took an eight-second backcourt violation as a tribute for Kobe Bryant, some fans from the Ventura home crowd started calling Carrasco and other players by rude names, not aware the violation was intentional.
Carrasco spoke about the team’s endurance and her own drive to succeed.
“I used it as motivation to really motivate my team so that we could get the win tonight. My team came through and I’m really proud of this team,” expressed Carrasco.
This is back-to-back seasons that Head Coach Kenny Plummer has led the Raiders as WSC Champions.
“I feel great about being conference champs back-to-back years. This is the first time since 1989 that this achievement was done,” Plummer stated. “I am so proud of how our team was locked in and ready to take on whatever Ventura College threw at us. This accomplishment is great for the players, program and for the college. It solidifies that our Women’s Basketball program has arrived and become real.”
Plummer has his team playing inspired defense. Their goal is to make every opponent uncomfortable as they try to run their offense.
“We take much pride in our defense and always prepare for the challenge in holding our opponents under their scoring average,” Plummer said. “We hang our identity on the defensive end and have all bought into what it takes effort-wise and being disciplined.”
According to the team, winning the conference championship is a great achievement, but ultimately the Raiders are focused on winning it all this season as they continue their quest this Wednesday, Feb. 19 in Santa Barbara at 5 p.m.
