2 days Ago By Valley Press
ROSAMOND — The Rosamond girl’s basketball team opened their CIF championship defense with a convincing victory in the first round of the playoffs on Friday night. The Roadrunners defeated Chavez 57-25 in a CIF-Central Section Division 5 first-round game at Rosamond High School. The Rosamond starters combined for 52 points in the victory and started the game with a 13-0 run before Chavez scored its first basket of the game, with 2:48 remaining in the first quarter.
Rosamond junior Nadiyah Baladez led the Roadrunners with12 points, junior Abigail Cardoza finished with 11, junior Ariel Cain and sophomore Ambrie Renteria both had 10 points apiece and senior Kiley Perez added nine points. “We came out very strong,” Rosamond coach Justin Armstrong said. “I’m very proud of my team tonight.
Our defense was really strong and created a lot of offensive opportunities off turnovers.” Perez anchored the Rosamond defense with five steals and three blocks. The Rosamond offense finished with seven 3-pointers.
“I think this win sends a strong message to our bracket that we are ready for a title defense,” Armstrong said. “The road to CIF has to go through Rosamond and we intend to hold down our home court over the next week.” Chavez was able to climb within single digits a couple of times, but Baladez hit a turnaround jumper from inside the paint to give Rosamond a 20-10 lead with 3:03 remaining in the first half.
Baladez hit a field goal to beat the buzzer at halftime, giving the Roadrunners a 29-12 advantage at the half. Rosamond will host High Desert League rival Kern Valley in the quarterfinals tonight at 6 p.m.
Rosamond beat Kern Valley twice in league play during the regular season, the first time by 12 points and the second by 27..
