The Lady Bruins basketball team earned it’s way to the semi-finals Thursday afternoon after a convincing double-digit win over the #4 OSAA ranked Willamina Lady Bulldogs.
On the opposite half of the court of this semi-final game stood the #1 OSAA ranked Clatskanie Lady Tigers coming off their own 13 point win over the #8 OSAA ranked Harrisburg Lady Eagles Thursday afternoon.
Facing another team that boasted a significant height advantage, the Lady Bruins knew that positioning and hustle would be their calling card this game if they were to advance.
In the first, both teams settled into their games that would later prove to be very similar. The Lady Tigers, just as the Lady Bruins, ran a very similar 2-3 pressure defense that is designed to be disruptive and deny offensive cohesiveness.
The Lady Bruins became victims of their own strength and struggled to handle the full-court pressure.
Only three Lady Bruin scorers hit baskets in the first after Lady Bruin guard Sidney Alexander #11 started off scoring with a 3 pointer as the Lady Bruins put up just 11 first quarter while the Lady Bruin defense held the Lady Tigers to just 12 points.
The second period continued the defensive battle as both teams pressured the other with suffocating defense. The Lady Bruins managed 7 points in the quarter as the defense turned brutal in the paint. Dramatic battles for loose balls and forceful fouls became the norm in the paint as both teams refused to allow unearned easy baskets.., if you made it inside to the basket, you were getting fouled. Senior Sierra Fitzhugh drew inside under the basket duties and was responsible for 4 of the Lady Bruins 7 second-quarter points, from the free-throw line.
But the close game changed with less than 1:00 minute in the half with the Lady Bruins trailing 18-20 when Lady Bruin junior center Sierra Fitzhugh #00 went down in a melee under the defensive basket with an ankle injury. Fitzhugh was carried to the locker room as the Lady Bruins trailed 18-22 at the half.
At the start of the third period, Sierra Fitzhugh was not on the floor and without a presence in the paint, the Lady Bulldogs took advantage of their height in the post and racked up 11 unanswered points to take a 21-33 lead on the Lady Bruins. Sierra Fitzhugh courageously attempted to return to play in the third, but her injury affected her mobility and the Lady Tigers just pounded the ball into the lane and overpowered the Lady Bruins. Senior guard Sidney Alexander rose to the occasion and hit two 3 pointers for 6 of the Lady Bruins 10 points in the period as the Lady Bruins trailed 28-43 going into the final 8:00 minutes of play.
Without a presence under the basket on either end of the court, the Lady Tigers ran up 21 points in the third period and continued to pound the ball into the paint. With no way to stop their inside advantage, the Lady Bruins sent the Lady Tigers to line 12 times. The Lady Tigers went 11 for 12 from the line on their way to a 19 point fourth quarter.
The Lady Bruins managed 10 points in the final period behind senior Sidney Alexander who hit another 3 pointer and a basket for half of the Lady Bruins 10 points as the Lady Bruins fell short 38-61.
Talking with Coach Schofield after the game he said “We did a great job limiting our mistakes in the first half. Clatskanie was big, athletic, and physical and have a pretty complete team. Losing Sierra right before the half really hurt us. Her rebounding and ball handling were critical for us in the first half, and with Blodgett hitting for 20 in the second half, it was just too much to overcome. I was really proud of the effort our girls gave us.” he said.
After falling 38-61 in the semi-final round, the Lady Bruins will take on the #6 OSAA ranked Burns Lady Hilanders who fell to the #2 Sutherlin Lady Bulldogs 35-46. The battle for third place in the 3A division will take place early Saturday afternoon at 12:30 pm.
