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Rio Hondo College News

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3600 Workman Mill Road / Whittier, CA 90601 / 562-692-0921
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Article published: Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Whittier Daily News

Rio Hondo starts playoffs on the road By Robert Morales Staff Writer

Rio Hondo College made the playoffs in women's basketball, and that's all Roadrunners coach Kathy Pudelko cares about.

That her team - co-champions of the Foothill Conference with a 23-8 overall record - must travel to Moorpark College tonight for a play-in game against the 15-15 Raiders did not dampen her spirit one bit. Tip off is 7 p.m.

"I don't have a problem with it; we got to the playoffs," Pudelko said. "I don't even know why this is an issue."

Rio Hondo is the No. 17-seeded team in the Southern California Regionals - Moorpark is seeded 16th. The winner will play at top-seeded Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday in the first round.

The criteria used for selecting playoff teams includes strength of schedule and conference finish. Antelope Valley (22-9 overall) was co-conference champion with Rio Hondo (12-2). The Marauders received the No. 12 seed and are on the road Saturday at No. 5-seeded Pasadena City College.

In other words, the seeding committee didn't think much of the Foothill Conference when it put its co-champions on the road.

The polls also reflect this. The final Southern California top 15 poll was released Sunday. Antelope Valley was No. 12 and Rio Hondo was No. 15. Several teams ranked above them had far inferior records. Neither is in the top 20 state poll, even though their respective records are superior to many in that poll.

But Pudelko will take what was given without batting an eye. Even if it means a win over Moorpark would pit the Roadrunners against Mt. SAC. The Mounties are 31-2.

"We are just going to take it one game at a time and do the best job we can," Pudelko said. "If we get to that game, that will be great. What more can you ask for? It is an opportunity to play another game and just go for it."

Rio Hondo played at Moorpark in a nonconference game Dec. 20 and was defeated 77-62. But Kim Ramirez, the Roadrunners' best player, did not play the second half because she was nursing some injuries.

Ramirez averaged 12.7 points and 14.3 rebounds during the regular season. Other notable Rio Hondo players are Ruby Catani (8.7 points per game), Amelia Perez (8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds), Rosario Rios-Aguilar (7.8 points), Elena Agabao (7.7 points) and Crystal Crystal (7.4 points).

Catani has made 83 3-pointers, Agabao has made 73.

Moorpark has three players averaging more than 10 points - Natasha Belou (10.5), Sarah Ruiz (10.4) and Katie Morton (10.4). Wendy Garcia is averaging a team-high 7.6 rebounds.

"They are an up tempo type of team and they will press," Pudelko said.

-RHC-

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