Sports
Girls Basketball: Castro Valley Looking for Another Run Like Last Year
The Trojans return a solid core from last year's team.
The girls basketball team is hoping to have the same kind of end-of-the-season fortune as last year – a deep run through the North Coast Section Division I playoffs.
To do that, the Trojans will need a good year from some key returning players – especially returning point guard Elena Ala, an all-Hayward Area Athletic League player. The senior was instrumental last year with 44 points in three section playoff games.
As the No. 14 and final seed in the playoffs, Castro Valley upset No. 3 Monte Vista (54-42) in the first round and then posted a thrilling 53-52 win over No. 6 Newark Memorial in the quarterfinals.
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The Trojans' exciting run came to an end with a 67-56 loss to No. 2 Deer Valley. But advancing to the semifinals gave the Trojans a trip to the NorCal playoffs, although the season came to an end with a 54-49 loss to Oakland Tech in the first round.
In addition to Ala's stellar play, Danica Appleby (12 points in three section playoff games) and Arianna Posey (16) each had solid games.
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Other key players returning are junior Jessia Woo and senior Stephanie Matsui.
"I have high hopes," Castro Valley coach Jim Lemmon said of Ala. "And Arianna is a captain."
A newcomer who has Lemmon smiling thus far is Jazel Talauta. She was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player in the San Ramon Valley Classic, which Castro Valley won with victories over College Park and San Ramon Valley.
She also scored a game-high 14 points in a .
The Trojans are 3-5, and one thing Lemmon isn't shy about is scheduling games against some of the section's stronger Division I teams. The Trojans' other win is over Foothill. Their losses have come from Dougherty Valley, Campolindo, Logan, Mission San Jose and Moreau Catholic.
"I try to schedule all the tough teams, it makes you better in the long run," Lemmon said.
And sometimes as a result, Castro Valley's record takes a hit. But that's fine with Lemmon.
"I think last year we entered league with a near .500 record, but that's fine," Lemmon said.
And when it comes to HAAL play, the Trojans will see some other top teams in Northern California, with foes such as Bishop O'Dowd and Moreau Catholic. Both finished ahead of Castro Valley last year as the Trojans went 12-4 in league play.
O'Dowd, which won the NCS Division III title, advanced to the NorCal Division III semifinals. Moreau, which is five years removed from its last Division III title, is a staple in both the playoffs and HAAL action.
