On Friday morning the Lady Bruins varsity basketball team continued their journey in post season play after being knocked down to the consolation bracket by the #1 ranked Burns team. Perhaps out of sorts in post season, the Bruins looked nervous and tight in their game Thursday afternoon, However, Friday morning was a different story.
The No. 8 ranked Brookings-Harbor Lady Bruins matched up with the No. 12 ranked Aardvarks of Oregon Episcopal, and a very different Lady Bruin team walked onto the hardwood. As the game began it was clear that an energized and serious Lady Bruin was on the floor. Sophomore Lexi Schofield picked up right where she left off, with 3 baskets, a 3 pointer and two free throws for 11 points. Schofields 11 points matched all Aardvark scoring in the first period of play. Chloe McCrae established herself in the paint early on and hit two buckets for 4 points and sophomore Lexee Murray hit a 3 pointer all in the first period.
In the second period the Aardvarks stepped up their defense and slowed the Lady Bruins down from their explosive start in the first period. Oregon Episcopal got five players in the scorebook but more importantly held the Lady Bruins to just 10 points. Sierra Fitzhugh woke up for the Lady Bruins in the second period hitting two baskets, and went 2 for 2 from the line. Sidney Alexander hot a 3 pointer as the Lady Bruins could manage only 10 points in the period as they took a 28-21 lead into the halftime break.
Possibly fearing a third-period lull, Coach Schofield’s Lady Bruins came out in full press defense, taking the Aardvarks out their comfort zone and eliminating any momentum they thought they had established right out of the gate. It was a good move as the Lady Bruins again slipped into a shooting slump only getting four shooters in the scorebook. Lexi Schofield hit a basket, Mickey Fulton hit a free throw, as Chloe McCrae worked hard in the paint with a bucket and going 2 for 2 from the free throw line. Lexee Murray hit her second 3 pointer of the game and the Lady Bruins won the third period as the Lady Aardvarks managed only 7 points.
Taking a 10 point lead into the final period, you could sense a feeling of anxiety as the Lady Bruins couldn’t shake their shooting woes. In fact, none of the Lady Bruins points in the fourth period came from made baskets. The Lady Aardvarks clearly needed to control the clock and score points, so the game plan was to stop the clock by fouling the Lady Bruins and send them to the line, while pressing the offense into their offensive end and quickly take the shots the Lady Bruin defense gave them, and it worked. The Lady Bruins went to the line 16 times going 9 for 16 from the line allowing the Lady Aardvarks to cut the Lady Bruin lead to just 2 points in the final seconds. In a final desperate Lady Aardvark run with seconds left, the Lady Bruins closed the lane in the paint and the Oregon Episcopal shot fell short, giving the Lady Bruins the win and life into today’s round of play.
“We didn’t finish thing off real well, but we made just enough free throws and got just enough stops to hold on.” said Coach Schofield after the game. “We are just going to remind the girls of the things that got them here. The things that make them successful.., effort, energy, tempo and freedom bordering on recklessness.” He went on to say in preparation for tomorrow mornings game.
Saturday morning basketball will feature the #7 Warrenton Warriors and the #8 Lady Bruins in what should be a fantastic morning of High School basketball beginning at 9:45am.
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