A championship, shall we say, is not in the cards for the Southwestern College women’s basketball team.
The Jaguars are 0-11, with some eye-popping losses, including a 110-0 defeat to Palomar College. In their closest game of the season, they fell 91-17 to San Diego City College.
But that’s not bad for a group of women who were far more accustomed to kicking the ball, not dribbling it.
In that spirit, as Southwestern faces MiraCosta College on Friday in the final game of the season, college officials are asking the public to “Pack the Gym” to show their support for a team that may lack hoops talent – though they are skilled athletes – but more than makes up for it with heart.
The game begins at 5 p.m. at the Southwestern College Gymnasium, Bldg. 70, Wellness & Aquatics Complex, 900 Otay Lakes Road in Chula Vista. Admission and parking are free.
At the beginning of the year, Southwestern almost forfeited its entire basketball season despite coming off a 15-12 campaign. Injuries and transfers had decimated the roster, forcing the cancellation of the first five games.
That’s when Jaguar soccer players – many of whom had never set foot on a basketball court competitively – stepped into the breach and volunteered to learn on the go.
“We notified the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference and respective athletic directors that our only intention was to field a team,” said Athletic Director Ron Valenzuela. “Southwestern College Athletics has an obligation, responsibility and commitment to our women’s basketball program, the college and conference to fulfill.”
He added that the college is “extremely thankful to the 11 soccer players … for their desire, courage, optimism and determination to compete.” He also singled out Carolina Soto, Southwestern’s head soccer coach, for her support.
The freshman soccer players, who hail from Chula Vista, San Diego and Baja California, comprise the entire basketball roster.
On the pitch they’ve tasted success, going 11-5-4 during soccer season, including a five-game winning streak.
The court, however, is a different story. Yet Ariana Lieras and Gialli Francisco, first team all- PCAC soccer players, jumped at the opportunity to be dual-sport college athletes. And they think the experience will pay dividends when they return to their primary sport.
“We have more unison with each other and continue to build our chemistry on the basketball court which will also translate to the soccer field,” Lieras said.
Francisco pointed to lessons in “composure, resilience, and the importance of having fun while working hard.”
“We stepped up when needed, and surprisingly, we’re better with our feet,” she added.
– Staff and wire reports
