Women's basketball team wins Pierce title
Matthew Schuler
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: Sports
The Rio Hondo Women's Basketball won the Pierce Tournament Championship, escalating their record to 8-0 on the season.
It was the Roadrunners second tournament championship this year. They took Citrus College, 99-91, in overtime in the championship game to win the tourney.
Lesley Vodicska had her best game of the tournament in the championship game, recording a triple-double with only one turnover and was named the tournament's mvp and capped off the title game with 15 points, 10 assist and 10 steals.
"I try to find the open player," said Vodicska. "I am a pass first, shoot later type of player".
Rio, as a team, played its best basketball when it came down to it, hitting five-for-five field goals in overtime, including two-for-two from the perimeter and securing the win shooting 10-for-11 from the free throw line, which is nearly perfect in such a crucial period of the game.
"Our team is doing a good job of finishing games," said head coach Kathy Pudelko. "The chemistry between the players is good and we're off to the best start… since I've been here."
Cynthia Duarte also contributed offensively with 23 points, attacking the basket and getting to the foul line, hitting nine-out-of-10 free-throw attempts.
Champaign Hood had her usual double-double, scoring 25 points on 11-for-14 field goals, and grabbed 13 rebounds, including five offensive boards.
"(Basketball), It's a game you wake up and you want to play," said Hood. "Without basketball the day just wouldn't be the same."
The Roadrunners also defeated Los Angeles Valley College in the first round of the tournament, 87-77, and dismantled cross-town foe ELAC, 86-68, in the semi-final round. Duarte led the scoring for Rio in the game against ELAC with 24 points.
The Lady Roadrunners are off to a hot start as this is the second tournament the team has won this month. They won the San Diego Mesa Tournament in early November.
Vodicska also received mvp honors for the San Diego Mesa tournament as well, with Champaign Hood receiving all tournament honors.
"It shows on the court, all our teamwork we put in," said Hood. "No one player is better than the other; we are all equal and play good as a team".
The Roadrunners will be at the Cypress Tournament this weekend and then will travel to Irvine for the Irvine Valley Tournament Dec. 11-13.
After the Irvine tourney, Rio Hondo will play Imperial Valley Dec. 16 and then get back into tourney play at Cuyamaca Dec. 27-30.
"The kids are doing a good job," said Puldelko. "We're taking it one game at a time".
The Roadrunners open Foothill Conference play Jan. 3 against Chaffey in the Rio Hondo gym at 3 p.m.
It was the Roadrunners second tournament championship this year. They took Citrus College, 99-91, in overtime in the championship game to win the tourney.
Lesley Vodicska had her best game of the tournament in the championship game, recording a triple-double with only one turnover and was named the tournament's mvp and capped off the title game with 15 points, 10 assist and 10 steals.
"I try to find the open player," said Vodicska. "I am a pass first, shoot later type of player".
Rio, as a team, played its best basketball when it came down to it, hitting five-for-five field goals in overtime, including two-for-two from the perimeter and securing the win shooting 10-for-11 from the free throw line, which is nearly perfect in such a crucial period of the game.
"Our team is doing a good job of finishing games," said head coach Kathy Pudelko. "The chemistry between the players is good and we're off to the best start… since I've been here."
Cynthia Duarte also contributed offensively with 23 points, attacking the basket and getting to the foul line, hitting nine-out-of-10 free-throw attempts.
Champaign Hood had her usual double-double, scoring 25 points on 11-for-14 field goals, and grabbed 13 rebounds, including five offensive boards.
"(Basketball), It's a game you wake up and you want to play," said Hood. "Without basketball the day just wouldn't be the same."
The Roadrunners also defeated Los Angeles Valley College in the first round of the tournament, 87-77, and dismantled cross-town foe ELAC, 86-68, in the semi-final round. Duarte led the scoring for Rio in the game against ELAC with 24 points.
The Lady Roadrunners are off to a hot start as this is the second tournament the team has won this month. They won the San Diego Mesa Tournament in early November.
Vodicska also received mvp honors for the San Diego Mesa tournament as well, with Champaign Hood receiving all tournament honors.
"It shows on the court, all our teamwork we put in," said Hood. "No one player is better than the other; we are all equal and play good as a team".
The Roadrunners will be at the Cypress Tournament this weekend and then will travel to Irvine for the Irvine Valley Tournament Dec. 11-13.
After the Irvine tourney, Rio Hondo will play Imperial Valley Dec. 16 and then get back into tourney play at Cuyamaca Dec. 27-30.
"The kids are doing a good job," said Puldelko. "We're taking it one game at a time".
The Roadrunners open Foothill Conference play Jan. 3 against Chaffey in the Rio Hondo gym at 3 p.m.
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