After an historic season finishing 28-6 overall, winning the Big 8 conference championship for the second straight season and earning the first state title in women’s basketball since 1988, the Bear Cubs are reloaded and poised to repeat.
The defending state champs traveled to Orange County during Thanksgiving week and won the Santa Ana College Thanksgiving Tournament in three games to bring their overall record to 5-1. SRJC defeated the L.A. Valley Monarchs in game one 64-51, crushing the Mira Costa College Spartans 69-35 in game two and finished off the Riverside Community College Tigers in the championship game 63-49.
Strong play by returning guards Jen Tsurumoto and Jenna Reed helped secure the victory and tournament championship for the Bear Cubs. Tsurumoto was named Tournament MVP and Reed earned an All-Tournament selection. Freshmen forwards Anandi Jimenez and Arianna Hanson contributed by making key plays as well as freshman guard and co-captain Holly Cramer. Whitney Edens also provided a spark at the guard position.
Entering the season, co-captains Ashley Morgan and Cramer will be expected to provide leadership on top of a heavy workload. Many SRJC fans are familiar with sophomore guard Tsurumoto and her scoring ability. After her breakout performance last season, averaging 13.1 points per game and clutch play in the state championship game, look for the co-captain to build on her past success. Along with Tsurumoto the 2011-12 team is stockpiled with talent.
Almost every player on the roster earned All-League or All-Empire honors during high school. What may be the “X” factor could be the combination of four former high school league MVPs in this year’s freshman class. Playing for Montgomery, Jimenez was the 2010 North Bay League MVP and while playing for Cloverdale Edens was the 2010 North Central League I South MVP. Hannah Dolan and Hanson were North Central League II South MVPs while playing for Rincon Valley Christian. “We have some freshman that are stepping up,” head coach Lacey Campbell said.
The Bear Cubs former captain and last season’s Big 8 conference MVP Mia Greco was recruited and transferred to St. Mary’s College of California in Moraga, however, look for Tsurumoto or Morgan to compete for Big 8 MVP this season.
Injuries have not been an issue so far this season with the exception of former Ursuline standout and starting center McKenzie Mangino, who suffered a dislocated finger. Mangino may be cleared to play in the Golden Gate Classic Tournament Dec. 16-18.
“We lost Mangino and she was our starting post player. She went out with a dislocated finger and needed to have that reset,” Campbell said. “We’re hoping to get her back soon.”
The Caren Franci Invitational hosted by SRJC will be held at Sonoma State University on Dec. 9-10 and the championship game will be played at SRJC on Dec. 11.
The Bear Cubs will compete in the Golden Gate Classic Tournament hosted by the City College of San Francisco Rams. S.F. City will be out for revenge if matched up against SRJC after losing to the Bear Cubs in the state championship game 52-45 last season. The Ram’s star player and Northern California Player of The Year Janis Peterson was plagued by the airtight defense that held her to three points, making it her worst game of the year.
Reed is anxious for the upcoming competition after trouncing last year’s opposition. “I feel like NorCal teams are a little harder. Our tournament next weekend we have a lot of tough NorCal teams in it,” Reed said. “We’re a defending state championship team and I hope a lot of people come out to support us. I think we’re going to be a really good team again this year.”
The players are not the only