Needing a three-pointer to win, shooter launches from wrong side
of the arc
By JAWARA HARRISON
Pinnacle Staff Writer
The women on the Gavilan Lady Rams lost some tough basketball
games during the non-conference schedule. The 70-69 loss to
Hartnell College at Gavilan College last weekend, however, was as
gut wrenching as they come.
The women on the Gavilan Lady Rams lost some tough basketball games during the non-conference schedule. The 70-69 loss to Hartnell College at Gavilan College last weekend, however, was as gut wrenching as they come.
Needing a three to tie the game, the Rams instead sank a two pointer. The loss knocked the Rams overall record to 4-10.
“We worked so hard but fell short in the end,” said Rams guard Stacey Perrien.
After catching the ball just beyond the three-point arc and getting double-teamed, Rams forward Andrea Lupina swung the ball to teammate Kristen Rennard, who dribbled twice and swished a jump shot as the buzzer sounded.
Even though the Lady Rams played well enough to win, the team is still staring at a 0-2 record out of the Coast Section gate.
“It was a heartbreaker. It’s killing us that we lost that way,” said Rams guard Nicole Donley, who scored 14 points. “We played our best game of the season. We played excellent and no one gave up.”
“We played really well,” echoed Rams’ Coach Michelle Mannisto.
It does not get any easier for the Rams. Friday at 7 p.m. the Rams host San Mateo College.
Armed with only seven basketball players and competing in a Coast Conference in which the Gilroy-based Rams are the only team not based in a major city, the team has to continue pushing.
Mannisto’s team is finally starting to gel, and she quickly points to three Hollister products as the reason why. The play of forward Noreen Bailey, Perrien and Donley has stuck out like a hitchhiker’s thumb.
“They all give 110 percent on the floor. They’re intense and work hard in practice,” Mannisto said. “Nicole and Stacey are starting to separate themselves from the pack.”
In Saturday’s loss to Hartnell, Perrien hit a three in the final minute to tie the score and finished the game with 14 points. Donley, Perrien and Bailey accounted for all of the three pointers in the game.
After playing small forward for the Haybalers last season, Perrien was switched to the guard position by Mannisto.
“I like to switch Nicole and Stacey back and forth. It all depends who is doing well at the time,” Mannisto said.
A natural ball handler and decision maker, Perrien has flourished in the new position.
“It’s all about confidence,” Perrien said. “I like to run the offense and my teammates believe in me. That lets me know I can do it.”
In Donley’s case, flip-flopping between the point and shooting guard positions has been a bit easier. Last season at San Benito Donley played shooting guard, led the team in three-pointers and was second on the team in scoring.
Whenever the starting point guard needed a breather or was in foul trouble, Donley ran the point.
As a Haybaler or a Lady Ram Donley always played by the same philosophy: Just win baby.
“We’re all working together and coming together as a team,” Donley said. “We’re sick of not working together and getting things done. We’ve put aside our differences and it’s making a difference.”
