Victorious Monarchs look ahead

High scoring performances from Jacqueline Privado and Jordyn Jiron set expectations high for the Lady Monarchs next game against Butte College.

By Kevin Khachatryan, Staff Writer

As women’s basketball wrapped up their first three games of the season, Valley currently sits with an overall record of 2-1. The Lady Monarchs look ahead to their first tournament game against Butte (8-1) at College of the Sequoias, where they will face the No.1 team ranked in the Golden Valley conference. Valley will look to keep their momentum going after their triumph win against San Diego City 68-51.

Three Monarchs lead the group on the current roster. Jacqueline Privado, Jordyn Jiron and Princess Byrd are averaging more than 10 points a game. Privado is ranked 8th with 12.0 points per game, while both Jiron and Byrd are tied at 15th with 10.3 points per game.

Although the Monarchs offensive net efficiency is negative with a total of 17.3 turnovers per game and 17 personal fouls committed (-0.002), the ladies always come out with energy and a positive attitude for each game. Every opponent this season has been a tough adversary for the Monarchs.

“We have a very tough preseason schedule," said head coach Monica Hang.

Starting the season 2-1, Valley is shooting 37.5 percent from the field and relatively poorly from the 3-point line at 24.4. Defense is the main struggle for the Monarchs with 58.7 points allowed from opponents and ranking 51st out of 92 for points scored per game against all colleges is damaging to the offense.

The Lady Monarchs will face Butte Community College (8-1) for their second road game on Thursday at 1 p.m., hunting for their second straight road win to stay undefeated (1-0). Butte is ranked No. 6 out of the 92 teams in the California Community College Athletic Association and are firing on all cylinders with an offensive efficiency of 0.928 and a net efficiency of 0.191. Butte is clearly one of the top ranked teams in the CCCAA, as they’re currently first place in the Golden Valley Conference with their only loss coming from a 59-58 nail biter.

“We don’t shy away from the competition," said head coach Monica Hang, emphasizing that the Monarchs don’t fold under the pressure. “Our record is never a true testament of who we are as we do not shy away from the competition.”

The biggest struggle for Valley is their shooting from the 3-point line. Lady Monarchs best shooter Juliet Jaramilo shoots just 25 percent from the three and is ranked No. 10 out of 13 players in the Western State South Conference. While Butte’s weakness is also the 3-point line with 27.6 percent shooting as a team and Sarah Tait shoots 32.7 from beyond the 3-point line.

Even though the opposing team possesses an 8-1 record, they also struggle to shoot the ball and their one stand out stat is the defense. Butte is ranked in the top 6 out of 92 overall with a 0.737 defensive efficiency, while Valley’s defense struggles to stay in the top 35.

Following Valley’s first win at home, the Women’s basketball team shot 31.3 percent from downtown and 49.1 percent from the field, which was a season high for the team. The best performance of the season for the Lady Monarchs saw a 27 field goal make and five 3-pointers conquer through victory.