Women's basketball team tops Butte, opens conference Wednesday
Jan 04, 2009
The Irvine Valley men's and women's basketball teams open Orange Empire Conference action Wednesday night with home games against Fullerton.
The women's game is at 5:30 p.m. with the men's contest following at 7:30 p.m.
The women's game features two of the best teams in the conference. Fullerton, which was ranked 11th in Southern California last week, is one of the favorites to take the title.
But Irvine Valley is right there. The Lasers improved their record to 12-6 overall with a 49-47 win over Butte last Friday at home.
The Lasers were led by freshman forward Courtney Kollasch, who finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore forward Ashley Dunn added 11 points and eight rebounds and freshman guard Brittney Horton chipped in a team-high 13 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.
IVC shot just 25.7 percent in the game, but took advantage of second chance opportunities. They out-rebounded Butte, 60-43, and also made five more free throws.
"It wasn't the prettiest game," Coach Julie Hanks said. "It was very physical throughout, but I was proud of our team. They played tough and really battled for the win."
The men's game pits the teams that finished first and second in conference last year. Fullerton won the title with a record of 11-1. Irvine Valley was one game back at 10-2.
Going into Wednesday, Irvine Valley, which was ranked 14th in Southern California last week, had a record of 10-9. Fullerton was ranked 10th in the region last week.
The Lasers lost at LA Valley, 72-56, last Friday night.
"The conference is really balanced this year," IVC Coach Jerry Hernandez said. "Last year it had some top teams and then a drop off. But those teams that were on the bottom last year have really improved. Santa Ana and Cypress and Saddleback and Orange Coast are all stronger. Saddleback might have made the biggest jump.
"And then there is Fullerton, which won the conference last year and Riverside, which I think is one of the top teams in the state. Our league is so well coached and so talented, there are probably two or three teams that are capable of getting to the final eight (in the state)."