By the end of this season, the Laney College Women's Basketball Team was ranked one of the top teams in the state, earned a share of their conference championship, and a trip to the state championship quarter-finals, also known as the "Elite Eight." This is all the more incredible when one considers the team earned these accolades with only six players. The game of basketball is played with five players on the court at any given time, playing four quarters of action. More players equals more opportunities to rest during the course of a game. While Laney made a heroic effort in the quarters match up on Thursday, March 14th, against Moorpark (who played eight athletes), Laney ultimately came up short losing a heartbreaker, 47-44. The team from Orange Coast College took home the state championship on Sunday March 17th.
What an incredible season! Let us celebrate the Laney College "Elite Six" players:
Jada Hunter was recognized as the NorCal State Player of the Year. Previously, Jada (a Freshman) had been named as the Most Valuable Player in the Bay Valley Conference, which marked the 3rd year in a row that a Laney Women's Basketball player has received the MVP award. (Kya Pearson was MVP in 2021-22, while Amira Brown was MVP in 2022-23).
Sophomore Alayah Flucus was named to the All BVC team, along with freshmen Tali Fa'i and Laniyah Fulsome. Congratulations Ladies!
Head Coach Ramaundo Vaughn was recognized as the Bay Valley Conference Coach of the Year. Congratulations Coach!
The team, accompanied by Laney College Athletics Director John Beam, stopped by the Board of Trustees meeting on March 12th and took the well-wishes of the Board with them to Sacramento for the quarters.
Here are some photos from the game taken by Richard Quinton, the Sports Information Director for the California Community College Athletic Association aka "the 3C2A".
Thank you Eagles for a fantastic season!