Sports
Capistrano Valley's Girls Lose Playoff Game, and, Apparently, Their Coach
Cory Clark says he is resigning as the Cougars' coach after one season after his team is eliminated from the Division 1A playoffs with a 53-39 loss to third-seeded Rancho Cucamonga.
The Outcome... Rancho Cucamonga 53, Capistrano Valley 39
Following an undefeated foray through the Sea View League, Capistrano was ousted from the playoffs in front of its home crowd by Baseline League runner-up Rancho Cucamonga. The visiting Cougars outscored their hosts 14-2 over the final five minutes to clinch the victory and advance to the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA quarterfinals.
The Turning Point... Capo Can’t Maintain Possession in the Fourth Quarter
Find out what's happening in Mission Viejowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Capistrano Valley opened the game struggling on offense and turned the ball over six times in the first six minutes, which ultimately led to a disappointing 21-8 deficit to open the second quarter. After scraping and clawing its way back to cut Rancho Cucamonga’s lead to 39-37 with five minutes remaining in the contest, ball security issues arose again.
The Cougars coughed up six of their final nine possessions and allowed Rancho Cucamonga to score in transition while putting the game out of reach. Overall, Capistrano Valley lost the ball 24 times throughout the evening.
Find out what's happening in Mission Viejowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We stress tough defense, which has a lot to do with discipline and patience,” Rancho Cucamonga coach Dawnesha Buckner said. “If you maintain coverage and are patient enough, they will literally give you the ball. Our mindset has improved lately and it’s working quite well for us.”
The Difference... Rancho Cucamonga’s Physical Defensive Play
Capistrano Valley coach Cory Clarke felt his team simply struggled to withstand their opposition’s defensive intensity for the full 32 minutes.
“They were physical and applied a lot of pressure on us,” Clarke said. “We knew it was going to be a physical game and we were able to hang with their style of play for three quarters but we just wore out toward the end. It killed our offensive execution.”
Rancho Cucamonga point guard Briana Baker had five steals in her team’s victory. Clarke said the Cougars’ defensive prowess has developed into an identity over the course of the season.
“Defense wins games and rebounds win championships,” Baker said. “These are things we focus on. We came to play as a team tonight and used our defense to shut them down. This performance gives us a lot of confidence.”
It was Over When... The Visitors Began Pulling Down Offensive Rebounds
Rancho Cucamonga couldn’t be contained inside the paint during the fourth quarter, when the visitors pulled down six offensive rebounds that led to vital second-chance points. Senior Kathleen Iwuoha anchored the Cougars’ efforts on the boards.
The 5-foot-11 center ripped down 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end, while scoring 10 points. Iwuoha, who has begun garnering interest from collegiate coaches, returned from an ACL tear last month and has made an immediate impact during her team’s playoff push.
“Kathleen has wanted to play all season and it killed her to have to watch for most of the year,” Buckner said. “She’s letting out all of that frustration now and putting forth a great effort down low.”
The Aftermath... Capistrano Valley Suddenly Has a Coaching Vacancy
While speaking after the loss, Clarke dropped a bombshell when he stated it would be his final game on the Cougars' bench. The first-year coach, who had served as an assistant under his wife when she coached the team, sited his commute as a determining factor behind his decision.
“To be totally honest with you, this is my last game,” Clarke said, emotion evident in his voice. “This team has bright future but there’s just too much travel time involved and too many things going on with me. I don’t teach on campus and this is simply something I need to do.”
There was a stark contrast of emotions on the other sideline's post-game. Buckner’s players passed out cupcakes in honor of their coach’s birthday. Rancho Cucamonga can find comfort in knowing they will be home next Wednesday for a quarterfinal matchup against Villa Park.
“I told the girls in practice they better not lose on my birthday,” Buckner said. “They played hard for me tonight, there’s no doubt about it. Now it‘s time to look forward to Wednesday and get ready for another tough game”
