Las Positas women rout Ohlone in Coast Conference-North opener

Her long-range artistry in full effect, Las Positas sophomore Jenna Kol had a game-high 20 points in a rousing 88-24 win over visiting Ohlone in the teams’ Coast Conference-North openers last week.
Kol was 4 for 6 from 3-point range and 7 for 13 from the floor, but she felt her teammates really made the Hawks soar.
“We worked really well as a team together,” said Kol, a Kimball High graduate. “We did really well facing the basket. We moved the ball around a lot and we were successful at getting good shots.”
Moreover, Las Positas coach Clarence Morgan loved looking down his bench and seeing healthy people sitting there. The Hawks have dealt with injuries and a tough schedule, but reinforcements have arrived.
Three key contributors against Ohlone had been out with injuries: Samantha Roney (nine points), Cyerra Dillard (13 points) and Ashley Hart (14 points).
“First time we’ve had nine players all season,” Morgan said of the team's improved health. “We’ve been going with mostly six or seven, so it’s good to get them back.”
Kol has been working hard to round out her game.
“I’m really a 3-point shooter, I love going at the threes,” Kol says. “… But I really want to mix up my game. I want to work on my defense and get a lot of ball control, get a lot of steals, take it in a lot more, get more free throws and just not only shoot the threes.”
Morgan says Kol has been “doing fine” on offense, but was pleased to see all the extra work on both sides of the floor against the Renegades.
“She can shoot the ball as well as anybody, but a lot of teams box-and-one her or double-team her, so she’s got to learn how to fight through that, and she has been,” Morgan says. “And we’ve got to do a better job, and we have been, of getting her the ball when she is open.”
Mikaela Malave filled up the stat sheet with eight assists, six steals, four rebounds, and six points, and Hart also made it tough for the Renegades to set up on offense, with five steals.
Morgan says talented freshmen Hart and Alexis Caringal both have high ceilings, and freshman Monique Cannady was excellent on the boards against Ohlone.
As for Dillard, Morgan says she found her new best friend on offense, “that backboard.”
So, the Hawks’ overall record is deceiving. Morale remains high.
“We’ve won (three) games, and if you come to practice they’re still working their butts off, still working hard,” Morgan says proudly. “We’re not chewing each other out; they’re still a good group … Our conference is decent, but I think we’re as good as anybody.”
The Hawks are gearing up for a road showdown against tough San Jose on Friday.