Former Ceres High standout Quantelle Daniels and the Merced College women's basketball finished in fourth place at the San-Joaquin Delta College Classic, held at Joe Blanchard Gymansium in Stockton, Dec. 9-11.
The Blue Devils compiled a 2-1 record at the eight-team tournament and fell to 4-7 overall.
"We would have loved to done better," said Daniels, a 5-foot-3 point guard.
"I don't know what happened. I don't know if it's experience."
Eleven of Merced's 13 players are freshmen, including Daniels.
Injuries have also taken a toll on the Blue Devils.
Four starters have missed a significant amount of playing time this season.
Tonesha Jackson and Jenna Hobby just returned to the lineup. Jackson missed four games with a knee injury. Hobby missed three games after suffering a concussion.
Keyasha Brothern, a 2003 Ceres High graduate, and Pasha Williams are nursing injuries.
Brothern has been sidelined since Nov. 18. Slowed by a back injury, she has played in just three of Merced's 11 games.
Williams, who missed four games with a knee strain, could return to the team in several weeks.
"With everyone healthy, we'd be unstoppable," Daniels said.
"We could still be unstoppable if we played better as a team."
Added Merced coach Allen Huddleston: "We've been hanging in there and battling with some of the best teams."
Daniels scored just two points, eight below her average, during the Blue Devils' 74-59 loss to Delta, the No.1-ranked team in Northern California, in the third-place game of the tourney on Saturday.
"The momentum switched right before the end of the first half," Daniels said. "They hit a three and made a layup (for a two-point lead)."
Delta improved to 10-3.
The Blue Devils lost 62-58 to San Jose City College, the No. 4-ranked team in Northern California, in the semifinals on Friday.
Daniels had seven points and six assists for Merced, which led 30-25 at halftime.
Delta took its first lead of the game, 60-58, when Brittany Mesa made an uncontested layup with 30 second remaining.
San Jose shot 80 percent (12-for-15) from the free-throw line.
Merced shot 53 percent (9-for-17) from the foul line.
The Blue Devils edged Yuba College 80-72 in the first round of the tourney on Thursday.
Daniels had eight points for Merced, which led 40-38 at halftime.
The Blue Devils outscored Yuba 40-34 in the second half. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
The Blue Devils compiled a 2-1 record at the eight-team tournament and fell to 4-7 overall.
"We would have loved to done better," said Daniels, a 5-foot-3 point guard.
"I don't know what happened. I don't know if it's experience."
Eleven of Merced's 13 players are freshmen, including Daniels.
Injuries have also taken a toll on the Blue Devils.
Four starters have missed a significant amount of playing time this season.
Tonesha Jackson and Jenna Hobby just returned to the lineup. Jackson missed four games with a knee injury. Hobby missed three games after suffering a concussion.
Keyasha Brothern, a 2003 Ceres High graduate, and Pasha Williams are nursing injuries.
Brothern has been sidelined since Nov. 18. Slowed by a back injury, she has played in just three of Merced's 11 games.
Williams, who missed four games with a knee strain, could return to the team in several weeks.
"With everyone healthy, we'd be unstoppable," Daniels said.
"We could still be unstoppable if we played better as a team."
Added Merced coach Allen Huddleston: "We've been hanging in there and battling with some of the best teams."
Daniels scored just two points, eight below her average, during the Blue Devils' 74-59 loss to Delta, the No.1-ranked team in Northern California, in the third-place game of the tourney on Saturday.
"The momentum switched right before the end of the first half," Daniels said. "They hit a three and made a layup (for a two-point lead)."
Delta improved to 10-3.
The Blue Devils lost 62-58 to San Jose City College, the No. 4-ranked team in Northern California, in the semifinals on Friday.
Daniels had seven points and six assists for Merced, which led 30-25 at halftime.
Delta took its first lead of the game, 60-58, when Brittany Mesa made an uncontested layup with 30 second remaining.
San Jose shot 80 percent (12-for-15) from the free-throw line.
Merced shot 53 percent (9-for-17) from the foul line.
The Blue Devils edged Yuba College 80-72 in the first round of the tourney on Thursday.
Daniels had eight points for Merced, which led 40-38 at halftime.
The Blue Devils outscored Yuba 40-34 in the second half. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
