Old guard’s new guard at G-House

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: November 11, 2018

Grossmont College freshmen guards LEANNA WATSON and DREW MENDOZA

2018 COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

SANTA ANA 80, GROSSMONT 72

East County Sports staff report

RIVERSIDE (11-11-2018) – Despite a second straight loss by the Grossmont College women’s basketball team, it didn’t take long for Griffins guard Leanna Watson to get her “sea legs” back.

After sitting out her senior season at El Cajon Valley High, Watson’s plans to quit the sport and attend UCLA took a detour to Fletcher Hills, where she heads a group of strong freshmen attempting to keep the G-House near the top of the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference.

On Saturday (Nov. 10), Watson poured in a game-best 21 points, but Grossmont’s late rally fell just short in an 80-72 setback to Santa Ana at Riverside College’s “Earning Our Stripes” Tournament at historic Wheelock Gymnasium.

“Yes, we’re looking for our first win still, but it is in the near future,” said Watson. “We have to build some more chemistry and fix a few things, tighten up our ‘D’ but we will get there for sure.”

Many of the same problems affecting incoming students to UCLA – lack of housing in particular, and a lack of financial aid — derailed Watson’s plans in Westwood. So she returned home.

“I was heartbroken, but I’ve been through worse and I reminded myself that everything happens for a reason,” she added. “The second I found out, I texted coach Carlos (Moss of the Braves) and told him I needed a community college to play for ASAP because classes for community started in a week.”

Moss contacted Griffins head coach Karen Caires, among other schools. Watson visited several schools, making the connection with the G-House.

“After meeting the coaches at Grossmont, I couldn’t imagine playing for anyone but them. I instantly clicked with Grossmont – I love my team and every single one of my coaches. What the coaches at Grossmont are teaching us, both on and off the court will last forever.”

Against Santa Ana, Watson produced a double-double
by also adding 10 rebounds, keying the Griffins rebound to trim a 20-point deficit down to single figures before time ran out.

Along with Watson, Drew Mendoza keyed the comeback by nailing three straight shots from the floor in the fourth quarter, then Chiara Mattern nailed a 3-point shot. Another Mendoza basket and a triple by Mattern made it a 14-2 run before the clock expired.

Grossmont meets former state champion Santa Monica at the Palomar Tournament in San Marcos on Friday (Nov. 16), starting at 5 p.m.

Grossmont
PLAYER	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
STARTERS
11 – Ashlynn Everett – f	23	0-1	0-0	1-4	2	4	6	1	1	0	3	3	1
34 – Satori Roberson – c	19	1-4	0-0	2-3	1	5	6	0	2	4	3	4	4
1 – Leanna Watson – g	36	6-15	2-5	7-10	4	6	10	3	2	0	4	2	21
3 – Chiara Mattern – g	33	5-17	5-14	2-2	0	3	3	2	1	0	5	4	17
23 – Drew Mendoza – g	30	7-10	0-0	2-5	1	3	4	3	1	0	3	3	16
RESERVES
10 – Lesley Black	3	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
14 – Tokwaje Kwai	15	0-0	0-0	3-4	3	2	5	0	0	0	3	1	3
22 – Hannah Lewis	19	1-5	0-0	2-2	0	4	4	3	1	0	4	2	4
24 – Devann Horton	20	2-5	0-0	2-4	2	5	7	0	1	0	1	2	6
31 – Sarai Sarrge	2	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
TM – TEAM					5	1	6				2	0
TOTALS		22-57	7-19	21-34	18	33	51	12	9	4	30	22	72
		38.6%	36.8%	61.8%

Santa Ana
PLAYER	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
STARTERS
10 – Nyla Bivens – f	28	4-9	0-4	2-2	2	2	4	1	0	2	1	3	10
23 – Angela Rodriguez – f	9	2-2	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	4
3 – Brianna Sanchez – g	15	1-3	1-3	0-0	1	1	2	0	1	0	1	1	3
14 – Cailey Vitug – g	29	4-12	3-8	0-0	0	5	5	6	1	0	3	0	11
22 – Lexi Ross – g	22	4-18	0-1	2-6	4	4	8	5	2	0	2	3	10
RESERVES
2 – Sally Morris	17	4-8	3-7	0-0	0	1	1	2	1	0	2	3	11
4 – Gianna Luna	16	4-7	1-3	3-6	1	1	2	0	1	0	0	4	12
5 – Jenny Martinez	12	1-1	0-0	0-0	1	3	4	0	0	0	0	0	2
12 – Sunshine Townson	1	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
13 – Charlisa Olson	10	1-1	1-1	2-4	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	5
15 – Danielle Pryor	14	2-8	0-0	1-2	4	4	8	1	2	0	2	2	5
24 – Zibley Zaragoza	13	3-6	0-0	0-0	5	1	6	0	1	0	3	1	6
33 – Jennifer Murillo	6	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	0
34 – Cynthia Figueroa	8	0-0	0-0	1-3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	1
TM – TEAM					1	1	2				2	0
TOTALS		30-75	9-27	11-23	19	24	43	19	10	2	17	25	80
		40.0%	33.3%	47.8%

Game Information
Date/Time:	November 10, 2018 – 1 p.m. PST
Location:	Wheelock Gym, RCC, Riverside, Calif.
Technical fouls:	Grossmont-None ; Santa Ana-1 ( Cynthia Figueroa) .
Officials:	Brenda Castillo, Johnny Mendez, Jared Snyder; Stats: J.Cz
Attendance:	50