Golden Valley girls look to end playoff drought in basketball

The Golden Valley High School girls basketball team has been able to end a few droughts the past two years, including the program’s first conference championships since 2006.

Tuesday night, the Cougars (23-4) have an opportunity to end another long drought when they host No. 12 Franklin-Elk Grove in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs at Cougar Arena.

It’s been 10 years since Golden Valley has won a first-round playoff game.

“It definitely gives us even more encouragement,” Cougars senior Stephanie Moore said. “We were in the playoffs last year, but that didn’t really work out for us. I think having a lot of girls back will hopefully help us not fall victims to the pressure of the playoffs.”

Golden Valley is one of four area girls teams opening the playoffs Tuesday. Dos Palos will open the Central Section Division IV playoffs Wednesday at Sierra Pacific in Hanford.

In other action Tuesday: No. 14 Atwater (18-8) will travel to No. 3 Elk Grove (18-9) in Division II. Twelfth-seeded Livingston (19-8) will open at No. 5 Placer-Auburn (18-7), which is led by 6-foot-1 Baylee Vanderdoes, who is headed to San Diego State. Third-seeded Mariposa (20-7) will host No. 6 Holt Academy (17-3). All games start at 7 p.m.

It’s been eight years since Golden Valley has won any type of playoff game. The Cougars defeated Grace Davis 45-38 in a play-in game in 2008.

Fifth-seeded Golden Valley will have several factors working in its favor, the most obvious being the Cougars get to play in the comforts of Cougar Arena. They don’t have to make the two-hour bus ride from Elk Grove, as Franklin does.

Having not played in 14 days, Golden Valley is healthy and rested.

As Moore pointed out, the Cougars also have the experience of playing in the postseason last year, when they lost to Elk Grove 51-47. Going into the playoffs last season, Moore was the only player on the roster with postseason experience after playing her first two seasons at Modesto Christian.

“Last year, we lost a heartbreaker at home,” Golden Valley coach Matt Thissen said. “That was a few days after Delia (Moore) hurt her knee. I don’t think we were mentally ready. We also had to move Stephanie from her normal position and have her run point guard.

“I’m happy we’re healthy this year, and it’s a new opportunity. It’s a new year. I hope we can play to the best of our abilities, and if that’s not good enough, so be it.”

The question is: Will the long layoff result in a rusty team?

“I don’t think so,” Stephanie Moore said. “We’ve focused on resting and hydration. It’s not like we haven’t picked up a basketball in two weeks.”

Stephanie Moore will likely earn her second Central California Conference MVP award after leading the Cougars to a second consecutive 10-0 run. The UC San Diego-bound-star averaged 18.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 4.3 steals per game.

Center Abbee Croninger was second on the team in scoring at 10.2 points and led the team with 10.6 rebounds.

The Cougars’ focus on defense will be Wildcats sophomore shooting guard Chanel Stuart, who is averaging 14.4 points.

As a senior, Stephanie Moore knows now that Golden Valley is in the playoffs, its next loss will be her last game.

“It’s definitely on your mind that this could be your last game,” she said. “And for me, it could be the last time I play with my sister. It adds to the motivation that you have to leave everything you have on the floor.”

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 6:47 PM with the headline "Golden Valley girls look to end playoff drought in basketball."