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Hawks improve team chemistry
CV girls post 24-13 record
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Blanca Espinoza helped lead Central Valley High Schools girls summer basketball team to a 24-13 overall record. - photo by DALE BUTLER/Courier file photo

Central Valley High School's girls basketball program played closed to 40 games during its summer campaign.

"Their chemistry improved because they were always together," Hawks head coach Jesse Padilla said. "They had fun."

Central Valley compiled a 24-13 overall record.

The Hawks roster featured 14 players, including Mikayla Mabie, Adriana Haynes, Alyssa Costa, Teresa Diaz, Nicole Munoz, Simi Sahota, Blanca Espinoza, Adria Robinson, Angelica Duarte, Isha Chahal, Dream Miranda, Elizabeth Robinson, Chetna Kumar and Sue Chahal.

Central Valley's highlight of the summer was winning all eight of its games at the July 19-21 Chico State Camp.

"We went undefeated for the first time in eight years," Padilla said.

The Hawks posted a 4-6 record at the Long Beach State Camp (June 23-25).

Central Valley played 10 times in a three-day span.

"It was hit and miss up there," Padilla said. "We faced teams that we'll never see again."

The Hawks also competed in summer leagues at Stanislaus State and Modesto Junior College. Games were played in Modesto on Mondays and in Turlock on Tuesdays. Central Valley had a combined record of 12-7.

Central Valley's varsity girls basketball program accomplished both of its goals during the 2014-15 school year.

The Hawks finished in the top three in the Western Athletic Conference and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoffs.

Central Valley compiled an 18-8 overall record and finished second in the WAC standings (10-2).

The Hawks missed the postseason the previous two seasons.

"I'm pretty excited about next year," Padilla said. "Our chemistry is good. We only lose two players. Hopefully, we get back to playoffs."

Mabie and Haynes will fill key roles as they try to lead Central Valley to back-to-back playoff appearances.

Mikayla, a standout guard, was selected to the WAC First Team her junior year.

She led the Hawks in scoring (15.3 ppg) and assists (5.8 apg), and ranked second in steals (2.8 spg) and fourth in rebounding (5.0 rpg).

Haynes averaged 9.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while splitting playing time at power forward and forward.

Espinoza (guard) will be key role players. Blanca will be one of the Hawks' top newcomers. She was a major contributor at the JV level last season.

"Blanca hates to lose," Padilla said. "The other girls feed off her."