Loss in Finale Doesn't Keep Roadrunners from Playoffs

Though the Loma Linda girls’ varsity basketball team could not overcome Linfield Christian Thursday the Roadrunners are still headed to CIF playoffs.

“I don’t know what it is about Linfield Christian — a mental block maybe,” said LLA head coach Brianne Carroll after the Roadrunners’ loss.

Loma Linda fell for the second time to Linfield, 42-40, in what was a contest for second place in league. The Roadrunners (10-4) ultimately snagged the third of four playoff slots in the Ambassador League and will open the playoffs at home against Campbell Hall at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Campbell Hall is seeded sixth in the Division 5AA bracket, and finished the season third in the Alpha League.

In their final league game, the Roadrunners gave themselves plenty of opportunities to win.

“Linfield is a great team, but I don’t feel like they beat us. We just gave it to them. That’s more frustrating than anything. If they came out and beat us handedly that would have been easier to swallow then turning over the ball so much and giving away opportunities for them to score,” Carroll said. 

LLA trailed 10-8 at the end of the first quarter and two minutes into the second they were down 12-8, but two minutes later Loma Linda’s offense caught fire. Unfortunately, so did Linfield’s. The game became an offensive battle for the next four minutes with six ties and four lead changes. At the end of the first half the Roadrunners led by a basket, 24-22.

During the third quarter Loma Linda gained as much as a six-point lead, but they soon saw the 32-26 score dwindle down to a mere 32-30 lead.

“We had a lead a number of times in this game. We have no one to blame but ourselves,” Carroll said.

The same thing happened in the fourth quarter. Loma Linda pulled away from the charging Tigers, gaining as much as a seven point lead. However, with just under five minutes to play the Roadrunners could not hang on to their 39-32 lead. Turnovers eliminated Loma Linda’s gains and they watched the Tigers pull ahead 42-40 with just one minute left to play.

“Turnovers just killed us today. In the first half alone we had 14 turnovers and they had 22 points,” Carroll said.

Loma Linda fought to regain possession of the ball, defending Linfield until the shot clock ran out. However, when they got the ball back with 42 seconds on the clock the Roadrunners quickly turned it back over to the Tigers on a bad pass. Loma Linda regained possession with just enough time for one more offensive play, but under Linfield’s full-court press they were unable to work the ball far enough down the court to get off a good shot at the basket.

“We’re still going to playoffs. It doesn’t matter. We’re still third in league and that’s much better than where we expected to be,” Carroll said.

Loma Linda’s offense this season was led by sophomore center Alexandra Stream and guards, sophomore Caitlin Terukina and senior Elizabeth Yeo. Anchoring the Roadrunners’ defense was junior forward Kisha Colegado.

“This really was an amazing season. I know we had a few girls with that ‘12’ next to their name, but this really was their first year on varsity. It took them awhile to get into it and gain that confidence, but once they did they did an amazing job,” Carroll said.