| - video by Jason Irvine |
|
Lady Squires Varsity show they can play tough down the stretch |
BREMERTON, Wash. – Every game for the 2018 Lady Squires is a new experience. Last season they did not win a single game. So, Thursday (Mar. 01) at Mountain View they learned how to hold-on and win down the stretch under adverse conditions.
With three minutes remaining in the game, leading the visiting Curtis Cougars 36-to-31, the second of the two starting Gardner sisters, forward Makayla Gardner, also fouled out. Additionally, Lady Squires point guard Brooklyn Irvine was in foul trouble, with four personal fouls.
“It was a closer game than I thought it would be,” said head coach Rob Shauger. “We got in foul trouble early and both of the twins fouled out. It was just a rough day.”
But the Mountain View (MV) Varsity girls have shown throughout the season the ability to learn on the fly. That skill came into play again, as they held off the Cougars, 38-to-33, to pick up their fifth win.
“The good thing is we had equal scoring today,” Coach Shauger added. “It was a good all-round performance by our team.”
Starters Madison Gardner and Trinity Malaga lead the team with 9 points apiece and pulled down a team-high 10 and 9 rebounds respectively. Irvine followed with 7 points and 6 steals, also a team-high.
It was evident from the opening tip that Mountain View’s eighth contest of the season was not going to be easy. As a group, Curtis was taller and more athletic. But, the Lady Squires did not let that deter them.
With the score tied at 6 all, Mountain View put together a 13-to-5 second quarter, to take a 19-to-11 lead into the halftime locker room.
“Focusing on our defense was the key,” explained Shauger. “When we started lagging defensively, we called time out and worked on getting the girls refocused.”
Shifting to a 3-2 defensive, with forward Malaga at the top of the key, guards Irvine and Myracle Jackmon on the wing, free throw extended, and the Gardner sisters down low on the block, started the Squires on their three-game winning streak, dating back to Feb. 15th at Klahowya.
In the second half, Curtis got its offense rolling, scoring 11 points in both of the remaining quarters.
The Lady Squires answered with a twelve point 3rd quarter performance, behind three field goals from Malaga.
Although the Squires only scored 7 points in the final period, the seven steals and two blocked shots they strung together in the final quarter held-off the surging Cougars.
“It was a really tough game,” reserve guard Marli Stodden mentioned after the game, “but we had really good defense and that brought-out our offense.”
The Squires will play their final regular season game next Tuesday (Mar. 6). Then end the season at home against the Fairview Falcon from the North Division on Thursday, Mar. 8th. Tip-off for both varsity games will be at 3:30 p.m.
| - video by Jim P. |
