Undefeated Bonita Dominate Diamond Ranch In Girls Basketball

The stage was set for Diamond Ranch High to take down the undefeated Bonita High Lady Bearcats on the last day of the regular season at the home of the Panthers. Bonita beat Diamond Ranch 50-48 on January 24, giving Bonita their first victory against the Panthers in eight match-ups.

The otherwise poised and dynamic Lady Panthers came out the first quarter cold and unable to deliver, missing lay-ups and wide open shots. Bonita took full advantage of their sluggish start by going on a tear, going on a 21-4 run.

Panther’s junior guard Erika Williams didn’t score her first field goal until the four minute mark of the second quarter and was held to only two more points going into halftime.

Diamond Ranch’s team leading scorer Chelsea Barnes had eight of Diamond Ranch’s 17 points in the second quarter, but the dominant force of Bonita’s junior center Brianna Kennedy overwhelmed the Lady Panthers, keeping Bonita ahead of Diamond Ranch 31-21 at the half.

The third quarter belonged to Diamond Ranch and Chelsea Barnes. Refusing to allow her team to crumble, she orchestrated an 8-0 run the last five minutes of the third, closing the quarter trailing Bonita by eight points, 37-45.

The fourth quarter was filled with excitement as the Lady Panthers closed in on the Lady Bearcats trailing by only four points with four minutes and thirty seconds remaining in the game.

Bonita’s freshman point guard phenom Nikki Wheatley sacrificed her body on numerous occasions by fearlessly drawing fouls landing her on the free throw line. Bonita head coach Darren Baumunk was pleased with his freshman leader.

“She’s a tough one. Any other freshman point guard would have buckled under the pressure but Nikki led the team down the stretch,” said Baumunk.

Despite the second half push by Diamond Ranch, the undefeated Bonita Bearcats remained so by shutting down the Panthers leading scorers, winning 66-56.

“We came out with the determination that if we outwork them we will beat them, and we came out tonight and we did that”, Baumunk said.

After digging themselves in such a big hole in the first half, coach James was pleased with his team’s second half efforts.

“When we got within four points in the fourth, I thought we were going to win, but Bonita is tough and they pulled out the victory,” said James.

Diamond Ranch’s only two losses of the Hacienda League have been to the Lady Bearcats, finishing the regular season with a 10-2 record.

CIF Playoff seeding and opponent announcements will be announced Sunday.