In the final game of the regular season and with its playoff hopes in jeopardy, the City College women’s basketball team needed a big time performance from its captain and two-year starter Katie Randall, to overcome the visiting Moorpark.
When the dust settled, the Vaqueros emerged with an 82-56 win, securing the No. 3 spot in the Western State Conference and a probable playoff berth.
Randall’s performance illustrated the competitive greatness she has displayed all year, as she poured in 17 points, while shutting down Moorpark’s Tiffany Hurd, the No. 2 scorer in the WSC.
“Last year my role was more of a defensive stopper,” Randall said. “This year my team needed me to be more of a scorer, so I molded into that role.”
Growing up in Gibbon, Nebraska, a town with a population of about 1,700 Randall honed her skills playing multiple sports in America’s heartland.
“Where I’m from if you play one sport you play them all,” said Randall. “My first year here was just volleyball, my second year was volleyball and basketball and my third year is just basketball.”
Blessed with a large frame, standing 5’11” and an excellent feel for the game, Randall has led a young but talented Vaquero squad to a 22-12 record.
“What makes her special is she makes other people better,” said Vaquero head coach Sandrine Krul. “We haven’t had anyone else here who did that.”
Going into last Wednesday’s game against Moorpark the Vaqueros had just completed their most disappointing two-game stretch of the season, falling handily to both L.A. Pierce and top ranked Ventura.
With 15 players talented enough to contribute, all battling for playing time, it can be difficult to keep everyone on the same page.
“This year my goal is to definitely be a leader,” Randall said. “Coach looks to me to make sure everything is running smoothly.”
Despite finishing third in conference, the Vaqueros feel they have the ability to compete with anyone. Krul points to a hotly contested overtime loss to undefeated Ventura as evidence of her teams vast potential.
“I definitely think we are a team that can go to state,” Randall said. “We tend to show up at the weirdest times and when we do I think we are unstoppable.”
Randall credits her ability on the basketball court to her competitive nature. Her desire to overcome obstacles has made basketball her sport of choice.
“I love the adrenaline rush I get from contact sports,” Randall said. “I love volleyball but it didn’t give me the adrenaline rush I wanted.”
Scoring nearly 13 points a game and often times defending the opposing team’s best player, Randall is the key to the Vaqueros making noise in the playoffs this season.
The Vaqueros dropped their first round game to third seeded Pasadena 100-65 last year after finishing second in the WSC.
With her playing days at City College coming to an end, Randall hopes to continue playing basketball at a university in the future.
“I’m hoping to play at the next level, hopefully I will be playing on the east coast, that is my dream to have that opportunity,” Randall said. ? ?
