News
Athlete Shelby Secor Awarded Full Scholarship by Merrimack College
Los Medanos College Women's Team on Verge of Capturing Conference Title
By Matt Schwab
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 02/07/2012 07:12:09 PM PSTUpdated: 02/07/2012 09:59:30 PM PST
Los Medanos College women's basketball coach Richard Villegas is flush with Mustangs pride. His squad is two wins away from clinching its first conference title in 20 years. Plus, Villegas, the Mustangs athletic director, enjoyed a surreal Super Bowl. Los Medanos was guaranteed a victory as ex-Mustangs Dave Tollefson (New York Giants) and Sterling Moore (New England Patriots) played in the big game won by the Giants 21-17.
"To have two former LMC players in the Super Bowl, that just shows you that any athlete that comes to a junior college, especially ours, can reach their goals," he said. "That's amazing. We are very proud."
On a much smaller stage, the Mustang's women are all the rage.
If Los Medanos (16-9, 8-1 Bay Valley Conference-Valley Division) beats host Napa Valley on Wednesday as expected and can avenge an earlier loss to Solano at home Friday, the Mustangs will enter the NorCal playoffs as the conference champion.
After years of struggle, Los Medanos went 22-9 last season -- its best finish in Villegas' 16 years guiding the team. With six sophomores this season, Los Medanos has won 11 of its past 13, including a 78-73 upset win over BVC-Bay leader Laney (20-6, 9-1), which was ranked 10th in Northern California by JCScores.com.
Los Medanos' veteran cast boasts a third-team All-State player from last season (Shelby Secor of Antioch), Kim Moffett (Pittsburg), and
the dynamic backcourt of Heritage graduates Khyia Slone and Kaprice Simmons.
In lopsided wins over Napa Valley and Yuba last week, Slone, a speedy point guard, rang up 41 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and 24 steals combined.
The powerhouse inside duo of Moffett and Secor combines for an average of 22.3 rebounds a game. Another sophomore, Paola Flores (Ygnacio Valley), who played at Diablo Valley a few years ago, averages 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks a game. Secor swats a team-best 3.7 shots a game.
Villegas would love to hoist a championship basketball banner at LMC. Now wouldn't that be super.