Moorpark Raiders end Lady Monarchs playoff run

After keeping the game close in the first half, Valley watched Moorpark run away with the game after the break.

By Kevin Khachatryan, Staff Writer

Monarchs sophomore guard Leena Vo goes up to attempt a contested layup against Moorpark's Skylar Dillon during the playoff game against Moorpark college on Feb. 25, 2023. (Xavier Dubon | Valley Star)

The women’s basketball season ended Saturday at Moorpark College as the Monarchs dropped its second-round Southern California Regional contest 63-54 to the Raiders.

The Monarch faced a squad riding a 17-game winning streak and a team that earned the top spot in the playoffs. Valley (21-9) kept the game close through in the first half, even taking a lead at one point in the second quarter. However, Moorpark (24-5) clamped down on defense in the second half, limiting the Monarchs to 39 percent from the field.

Valley’s three offensive weapons: sophomore guards Jordyn Jiron, Leena Vo and Jacqueline Privado, shot a combined 6-29 from the field (21 percent), leaving the Monarchs helpless against the Raiders defense.

“We fought really hard until the end,” said Vo. “It just came down to having those sharp moves, executing and hitting shots. I don’t doubt that we didn’t want this game. It’s just that they showed up a little more than we did today.”

Monarchs head coach Monica Hang shows ecstatic emotion after the Monarchs score during the second round of playoffs of the western state conference season at Moorpark college on Feb. 25, 2023. (Xavier Dubon | Valley Star)

Before the game got away from the Monarchs, sophomore guard Emilia Brugna hit a 3-pointer on an assist from Vo to move the Monarchs within four points with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

Trailing 20-16 with six minutes left in the second quarter, sophomore Dyani Del Castillo made a jumpshot and Brugna knocked down a triple, giving the Monarchs their first and only lead, 21-20.

The Raiders went on a 10-0 run to close out the second quarter. Four turnovers for the Lady Monarchs led to Moorpark scoring two three-pointers and a buzzer-beating layup to end the first half with the home team leading 33-23.

In the third quarter, the Monarchs played a productive game as they were able to cut the lead to five points after Privado and Jiron each hit a 3-pointer on three straight turnovers from Moorpark.

The Raiders responded with a 8-0 run with two three-pointers that increased Moorpark’s lead to 14 points.

The fourth quarter saw the same struggles for the Monarchs defense as they were unable to stop Moorpark’s 10-2 run early in the quarter. The home team extended their lead to 15 points with two 3-pointers and Moorpark sophomore forward Jasmine Nichols helped extend the lead with two layups to give the Raiders a commanding 60-45 lead.

The Monarchs shot 5-17 from the field (29 percent) and 2-9 from three-point land (22 percent). The Raiders took advantage of Valley’s poor shooting to advance in the playoffs and end the Monarchs’ season.

“I was proud of my team’s performance,” said Vo. “It just hurts to leave everything behind because I’ve really built a family with them in the past two years.”

- With contributions from Nicholas Orozco