SCV Reader March 2016

20 • THE Reader
Reader Sports
March 2016
SCV S P o r t S
girls & women’s basketball
by Steve Pratt
Sports editor
Two local products have led the College
of the Canyons women’s basketball
team to one of the finest season’s in
school history. With a record of 23-6, the Lady
Cougars, led by 24th-year coach Greg Herrick,
captured their first Western State Conference
South title since 2011-2012 for the program’s
15th overall WSC South title.
But there was no joy in coach Herrick’s
voice when he learned of his team’s No. 9
seeding for the Southern California Community
Playoffs, meaning the Cougars would
have to hit the road, and potentially face the
No. 1 team in the following round.
“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Herrick said just
days before the team was to face Palomar College
in the first playoff game. “You can still
hear the shock in my voice. We go 13-1 and
win the conference and then when the seedings
come out we’re No. 9. It’s like some of the
other coaches in the room were just looking
out for themselves. We feel a little disrespected.
But you’ve got to play them all. I’m
just not real pleased with the way it looks.”
Back in 1997, Herrick led his team to the
state championship game and a 33-6 record.
“Historically that’s the benchmark for us,”
said Herrick, whose team managed a solid
17-game winning streak during the year.
“That team won 21 games in a row. After that
team I’ll put us up against any of the top
teams I’ve had. You’ve got to put them in the
group of one of the best teams ever.”
The Cougars have been led by 6-foot-tall
sophomore wonders Monica Friedl (Canyon
High) and Hannah Green (West Ranch High).
Friedl was the leading scorer this year and an
all-conference performer last year while
The Cougars’ sophomore Monica Friedl (Canyon high) leads the team in scoring this year and an all-conference
performer last year.
Green began at Sonoma State before transferring
to College of the Canyons. She led the
state in blocked shots this year and was third
in rebounds. In one game, she had 15 blocked
shots.
“The chemistry amongst the players is really
good this year,” Herrick said. “The kids
come to practice and play hard. It’s fun to go
to practice with this type of team.”
Herrick turned 63 a couple weeks ago, but
said he plans to keep coaching for another six
or seven years. “I enjoy what I’m doing and
I’m passionate about it,” he said. “I plan is to
go to 70 and then evaluate it. If I’m still motivated
to go to practice then I’ll keep doing it.”
Herrick retired from teaching two years
See Basketball, page 34