First tournament test passed by womenʼs basketball team

Rodrigo Carbonel / Roundup

Freshman center Kameron Jones averaged 26 points per game in the Brahmas women’s basketball team season opening tournament at Barstow, Calif during the weekend.

Pierce College came back from Barstow with a 2-1 record in the tournament defeating Victor Valley by 21 points, 67-46, in the first game, losing to Mt. San Jacinto by six in the second 82-88, and finally beat Barstow in overtime by three, 78-75.

“We looked good for where we’re at in practice, being 2-1 was a good showing for us counting that we have 10 freshmen and two sophomores,” said Pierce women’s basketball head coach Jim Couch.

The Brahmas completely dominated the game against Victor Valley but mental errors cost them in the second game as they almost had it wrapped up but let it get away, according to assistant coach Ralph Wesson.

“Overall I give us a ‘B’ rating for the tournament, we need to work on our defense and rebounding for the next games,” said Wesson. “We should contend in conference but it’s been three games, we still have 21 more to go.”

For the third and final game, the Brahmas showed some comeback power as they came back from a 16-point deficit in the first half to score 40 in the second and take the game against Barstow in their home court.

Even though the Brahmas came away with a winning record, head coach Couch however, believes there is still room for improvement in certain areas.

“For our next games we have to work on our execution and distributing the basketball, our post players averaged about 20 points per game in the tournament, our guards were one for five and one for six, they have to be more tolerating and get the ball inside,” said coach Couch.

Center Kameron Jones is definitely going to be allconference and maybe the league MVP this year according to head coach Couch.

Jones along with Skyy Lewis and Danielle Tyler are Pierce’s three players to watch out for during the season.

“We’re still getting used to each other as teammates but I think we did good for our first tournament, we fell through and did a good job,” said Jones. “I did ok but I know I can do better, I need to work hard on defense and other post players, especially if they’re better than me.”

The Pierce women’s basketball team will host their only tournament of the year on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 25-27, at home.

Pierce will begin the tournament playing at 7 p.m. on Friday against Rio Hondo. The teams participating in the tournament will be Barstow, Glendale, LA Southwest, Oxnard, Trade Tech, Contra Costa, Rio Hondo, and Pierce.