Womens Junior College Basketball:

Moorpark Raiders 70, Santa Barbara Vaqueros 56

By Erik Woods

Honestly, it's not what normally gets covered, but I covered a women’s hoop game Wednesday and these ladies have passion, heart, hustle. I wish more fans, reporters, writers would go out and support girls and women’s hoops - not because it's Title 9, it's just validating their fierce "love for the game."

One gender doesn't love hoops more than the other gender. Go Girl Power!

First Quarter

Elise Munoz-Albanez gets it crackin’ by scoring the first 4 out of 7 points for the Raiders. She was a "lock up" defender, crafty within the team's penetrating offense that controlled the game because she "willed it so."

The SBCC player that opened eyes all game was 6 foot Destinee King, she leads her WSC Conference with 20.3 ppg and 11.3 rpg. She reminds me of Candice Parker, like in the WNBA commercial when CP says, "We do work, yes ma'am!”

King's an athletic "specimen", whether it was her flowing to the rim, effortless passing in transition, or killer turnaround jumper in the lane. Her game says D1 from head to toe.

It's 13 to 13 to end the 1st Q, as SBCC controlled the tempo and had an effective smothering defense vs the Raiders.

Second Quarter

Moorpark guard Kasey Nilsen scored a lay with 8:15 left and a "dagger three pointer" with 5:03 on the clock to pull the Raiders ahead. Coming off the bench Nilsen pushed the action for the her Raider team.

The Vaquero that impressed all game for her physicality was 6-1 Jada Clark. Athletic and strong, she had 9 points and 9 rebounds. Her relentless defense and offensive energy made it seem she had double those numbers.

Getting back to D-King, this girl reminds me of Cal St. Northridge All Big West performer Shannon Fluker. Destinee plays like she's 6-4, she's "dope."

But Moorpark led, 31-23, at the half.

Third Quarter

3 Q was a succession of "slip cuts" for the Raiders, as they just wore down Santa Barbara. Sydney Arikawa of the Raiders stepped up and facilitated, finding the seams and setting the "plate."

Fourth Quarter

It was a close game in Q 4. With 9:16 left, the Raiders were only up 48 to 43, anybody's game.

But the aforementioned Munoz-Albanez showed her version of "the takeover" in the form of "was wap", lay up, chin to chin in your face D.

She helped spark a 54 to 43 lead, then 60 to 47 lead with 5:39 left in the game. Moorpark was inspired by the incredible and "animated" coaching of Kenny Plummer.

They showed relentless energy, powering past the daunting tandem of King and Clark.

The game ended with a 70 to 56 final, Moorpark going 19-9, 7-2 in league.

SBCC, with a valiant effort, is 25-11, 4-5.

Destinee King

We caught up with Destinee King after the game to ask her some questions about her game and recruitment.

How did you feel about the game? King responded, "It was frustrating. It's my sophomore year, this is the last time playing here, and we wanted to win badly. Our intensity was there in the beginning, we just needed to keep it up longer."

I asked her how did you build such a smooth skill set, create such a tough mentality in your game, to which she replied, "Playing vs boys when I was younger. My older brother Demario, he pushed me to be my best.

“I played varsity in Antelope [CA] for my Center High team when I was just in 8th grade. That experience got me going, just finding tough comp to better my game."

Wise words from a "baller’s baller" with super dope game.