Lady Bruins to Play Critical Play-Off Game TODAY!!

February 23, 2019

Coach Schofield and his 8-2 3A-5 Far West League girls basketball champion Lady Bruins will be on the hardwood TODAY at 2:00pm at Bruin Arena taking on the 5-5 Yamhill-Carlton Tigers. On paper, the Lady Tigers look to have a mature team featuring five seniors and will be coming off a 3 game winning streak including a play-off game last week that they won by just 2 points.

Coach Schofield, and Asst. Coaches Kyla Siri and Kara Miller coachin’ em up during a break in play.

The Lady Bruins struggled through a two game losing streak late in the season that Coach Schofield was forced to make adjustments that the team emerged from with more energy and focus on their goals.

The Lady Bruins 2-3 defense needs to be on point tonight.

Coach Schofield certainly has his team physically in play-off form and if they can use their 2-3 defense and smothering press to control tempo and momentum, it will be a long ride home for the Lady Tigers.

Lexi Schofield has been softening opponents defensive bellies all year and we can expect no less tonight.

But, it has been the offense that has brought the Lady Bruins to this point. The fearless driving into the lane by sophomore Lexi Schofield #1, senior forward Mickey Fulton #2 and sophomore forward #00 Sierra Fitzhugh through out the season has softened opponents interior creating spaces in the key for senior center Chloe McCrae #44 to establish her strength and height advantage with rebounds and close baskets.

Senior center #44 Chloe McCrae needs to take control of the paint at both ends of the floor.

With the Lady Bruins beating opponents up on the interior, it opens up the outside 3 point game. Junior guard Sydney Alexander has taken full advantage of the work inside and has two games with five 3 pointers and one game with four 3 pointers. #20 Lexee Murray has primarally come off the bench this season and put some opposing defenders in their places hitting timely 3’s when defenders leave her alone.

Floor general guard Sidney Alexander #11 will be critical to implementing Coach Schofields gameplan.

But all this does not happen with out a plan and Coach Schofield has delivered the discipline it takes to have a game plan and the ability to execute. The Lady Bruin floor generals junior guard Avana Pettus #10 and junior guard Sidney Alexander have been key all season long understanding the pre-set game plan and Coach Schofields sideline rants during the game to get the team into their offense and driving the breaks after turnovers caused by their defense and intense defensive press.

Junior guard Avana Pettus will need to break down the defense in the paint.

Aside from the two game losing streak mid way through the second half of league play, not having an achievable game plan has not been the problem, lack of focus after the half time break or perhaps a little over confidence were more likely the culprits.