COD (0-8) rolled onto their third tournament of the season, traveling to Irvine Valley to take on Santa Monica and Rio Hondo.

In the opening round of the tournament, the Roadrunners were matched up with the Santa Monica Corsairs (4-6). Desert dominated the boards, winning the rebounding war, 60-51, but lost the turnover battle, 29-17 and lost the battle of the free throw line, hitting 14.3% from the line, as the Roadrunners fell, 59-46.

Desert did open the game on a 7-1 run, but with 4:49 left in the first quarter, the Corsairs had tied the game at 7-7. Santa Monica would take their first lead with 2:21 left in the first quarter and while the Roadrunners would tie the game one final time at 29-29 with 7:22 left in the third quarter, Desert just could not get over. Sophomore starting guard Zuri Outlaw (Corona H.S.) led the Roadrunners with 11 points on 5 of 20 shooting and freshman starting forward Kiley Pitts (Yucca Valley H.S.) would lead all players grabbing 16 total rebounds, including 11 defensive boards. Sophomore forward Kaitlyn Cox (La Quinta H.S.) would leap off of the bench to grab 13 total boards and seven points on 3 of 7 shooting.

On the consolation side of the bracket, the Roadrunners faced off with the Rio Hondo Roadrunners (7-3). In a match-up of Roadrunners vs. Roadrunners, Rio Hondo opened the game with a 6-0 run and did not let go. Once again, Desert dominated the boards, winning the rebounding war, 54-46, but lost the turnover battle, 33-21 and lost the battle of the free throw line, hitting 50% from the line compared to 60% by Rio Hondo, as Desert fell, 76-40.

Sophomore center Destiny Frazier (Blythe Palo Verde Valley) led all scorers with a double-double, contributing 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting and grabbing 10 total rebounds. Sophomore starting guard Alissa Munayco (Indio Shadow Hills) led the Desert starters with nine points on 3 of 14 shooting.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com).