In a showdown of league power, the Lady Bruins were on the road to match-up against the only team to hand them a defeat this year, the 8-0 Sutherlin Lady Bulldogs.
In the 1st period, focused on stopping the Lady Bulldog offense, the Lady Bruins came out slow offensively, and it took some time before the Lady Bruin shooting warm up. Senior Sierra Fitzhugh #00 led the way for the Lady Bruins hitting 8 of the Lady Bruins 10 points off of two 3’s and basket, but Sutherlin piled up 19 points from 4 shooters.
Trailing by 9 into the 2nd, senior Shelby Jirsa #5 warmed up, hit a 3 and a basket as Fitzhugh took over in the Lady Bruin scoring column hitting a 3, three baskets and 2 of 3 from the line as the Lady Bruins put up 20 in the 2nd. The Lady Bruin defense pressed in the 2nd, disrupting the Sutherlin offense and holding the Lady Bulldogs to just 5 points before the half.
Coming off the break with the Lady Bruins holding on to a 30-24 lead , the Sutherlin defense put a stop to Fitzhugh’s offense, closing off the lane and controlling the boards and second shot opportunities. The Lady Bruins only managed 5 points in the 3rd from a #4 Faith Burton 3 pointer and a mid range jumper from Fitzhugh as the Lady Bulldogs ran for lay-ups on possession changes and put up 14 points to take a 3 point 35-38 lead into the 4th.
In the 4th period the Lady Bulldogs drove the lane inside and pounded the boards, putting the Lady Bruins in foul trouble and getting to the foul line an astonishing 16 times in the period compared to 2 foul shots for the Lady Bruins. Fitzhugh again led the Lady Bruins in the 4th, hitting a 3 pointer a basket and a free-throw for 6 of the Lady Bruins 9 points in the final period of play. The late foul shots for Sutherlin extended the Lady Bulldog lead late to take the 44-53 win.
“Kids played hard tonight.’ coach Schofield said after the game. “We hit a bad run the final 3 minutes when they ramped up the pressure and we got out of sorts a bit, we just had too many costly turnovers… It’s real tough for us to hold down 3 players of that caliber, Super proud of their effort.”
The Lady Bruins will finish regular season play Thursday night at home taking on Eagle Point at 6:00pm.
