After back to back games last week on Thursday and Friday evening, and coming off of a very physical close win against the Douglas last Friday, the 5-0 Lady Bruins and head coach Chris Schofield hosted the 4-0 Sutherlin Lady Bulldogs.
The Lady Bulldogs started the game pushing the Lady Bruin defense into their half-court defense and then driving into the paint to try and break down coverage and get easy baskets and early fouls. Sutherlin hit three baskets and a 3 pointer but more importantly went 5 for 5 from the foul line for 14 points in the 1st.
The Lady Bruins struggled early with the length of the Lady Bulldogs who used their reach to disrupt passing lanes and their size to physically clear the area under the basket. The Lady Bruins were led by a Shelby Jirsa 3 pointer and sophomore Ashlyn Scofield again established herself in the paint early, getting to the foul line 4 times and going 2 of 4.
The Lady Bruins, now trailing 9-14 to start the 2nd, turned the tables in the 2nd pushing the ball into the key and kicking out for the 3 pointer, as Sierra Fitzhugh, Tilly Peters, and Shelby Jirsa all hit from beyond the arc. Marissa Scott and Ashlyn Schofield controlled the key as Scott hit two inside baskets and Schofield hit a basket and went 1 for 3 from the line.
The Lady Bruin defense allowed only three Lady Bulldogs to score in the 2nd, committing no fouls and holding Sutherlin to just 11 points in the period, taking a 26-25 lead into the locker room at the half.
In the 3rd, the Lady Bruins continued to put pressure on the Sutherlin offense to score as four Lady Bruins put up 16 points in the 3rd. Lexi Schofield and Sierra Fitzhugh both hit from the outside for 3 and both challenged the heart of the Sutherlin defense in the lane, both hitting for 5 points. Sophomore Ashlyn Schofield was strong down low on defense and offense, and hit for 4 points inside and sophomore Marissa Scott hit in the paint also.
The Lady Bruins shut down the lane and easy baskets in the 3rd, holding the Lady Bulldogs to just 10 points in the period, allowing only 5 baskets from 4 Sutherlin shooters and extending their lead to 42-35 after 3 periods. In the final period the Lady Bulldogs needed to quickly get some offense to stay in the game, and pressed the Lady Bruins at both ends of the court, reaching in and disrupting plays, causing Lady Bruin turn-overs while being rewarded for the physical play by getting to the foul line 12 times, and going 10 of 12 from the foul line.
The Lady Bruins struggled to keep pace with the Sutherlin scoring, but could not get to the free-throw line going 1 of 3. Play was disrupted constantly in the 4th with all the foul calls, keeping the Lady Bruins from capitalizing from their fast-break offense and from generating any momentum. Late fouls and missed Lady Bruin opportunities extended Sutherlin’s lead as the Lady Bruins suffered their first lost of the 2021 season 49-58.
Coach Schofield told the Compass “It’s obviously disappointing to have one snatched away from us like that. We struggled to score in the fourth quarter and couldn’t get the stops that we needed to turn the momentum back in our favor.” “Marissa Scott and Ashlyn Schofield did a great job inside against possibly the best post in the state at our level,” he continued, “but we had that stretch in the 4th quarter where we gave up some easy buckets on offensive, putbacks that really helped spark them and turned momentum. Our girls really showed a lot of grit and toughness, I was so proud of our effort tonight.” he said.
The Lady Bruins travel to Grants Pass to take on the 1-2 North Valley Knights Monday night at 6:00pm.
