There’s no question the El Dorado girls basketball team had one of the most successful showings in the school’s history this past season.
The Golden Hawks went 28-6 and made deep runs in the CIF-Southern Section and Regional playoffs.
As memorable as the season was, however, El Dorado wants to top it next season, and with a talented core in place, led by returning first-team All-County players Jaylin Jones and Brooke Salas, the Golden Hawks are using the summer months as a time for some fine-tuning.
“We’re definitely looking forward to making another step further than we did last year,” explained El Dorado coach Wayne Carlson. “We try and use the summer months to develop individuals through skill work. Kids improve over the summer, so the team can grow together during the season.”
The Golden Hawks will return three starters from last year’s squad – Salas, Jones and Miranda Martinez. All three will be seniors next season.
Salas and Jones each averaged over 19 points a game last season. With that lethal duo returning, El Dorado figures to challenge Brea Olinda for Century League supremacy.
“Brea is going to be really good again, and they have a couple of new players too,” Carlson said. “I haven’t seen Foothill yet this summer, but they’re always going to be right there too.”
Early on this summer, El Dorado has played with a chip on its shoulder, knowing there is plenty left to accomplish after losing in the CIF-SS Division 2A championship game and in the Southern California Regional semifinals.
The Golden Hawks have gone 4-0 in the Valencia High summer league, and most recently went 4-0 to win the Claremont Scripps College summer tournament.
“No one cares about your record in June in July,” Carlson said. “We’re really just trying to use the summer as a time to develop a couple new players. Everybody is doing a really good job right now, though.”
The recent graduation of Haylee Byrne and Deanna Fink has Carlson and his coaching staff looking for potential starters from a group that includes Jennifer Ventura and Brianna Aluria, the school’s junior varsity MVP last season.
El Dorado will continue to play on Tuesday and Thursday nights in the Valencia summer league, and will conclude its summer league schedule in the San Diego Classic, which runs July 17-20.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
