| | Published February 4th, 2009
| Lady Mats 5-1 in League Play
| | Submitted by Mark Johanson |  | | Mats' Liza Katz takes the ball up the court during Dougherty Valley game
Photo Jordan Fong
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The Lady Matadors enter the second half league play with a 5-1 record, its only league loss to Dublin, 46-38. With an overall record of 14-6, the Lady Mats have improved the consistency of their play throughout the season under first year coach James Kizziee, blending returning veterans with first year players.
Key contributors include seniors Chelsea Christensen and Katie Reid, juniors Stephanie Golden, Lauren Kimble and Kristine Miller, and sophomores Alyssa Johanson and Liza Katz. The team is also currently ranked #17 by MaxPreps in North Coast Section (NCS) across all divisions.
The DFAL record looks impressive, but Kizziee says he's not taking early success for granted. League contenders are strong this year. Some league games have been close -- Campo, 60-56; Acalanes, 49-43; Dougherty Valley, 53 -47. But he believes the girls are playing better. Kizziee says that the team's turnover rates started out high, averaging around 25 per game. That's now improved, he explains, because the team is working together better on the court.
The Lady Mats enter a four game league stretch over the next ten days; a road game at arch rival Campolindo on Monday 2/2 (score not available at press time), followed by home games against Acalanes on Wednesday 2/4 and Dublin on Friday 2/6, and then another road game against league newcomer Dougherty Valley on Monday 2/10.
Coach Kizziee says he isn't into making predictions about the second half of the season; he takes it one game at a time but he knows the potential of his players and what they can accomplish when everyone's on the same page:
"The whole thing is if we just keep playing like we're playing -- like a team."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA