The Lady Bruins were on the road Friday night in Medford matching up Cascade Christian, who were looking for their first win of the season, and coach Schofield’s Lady Bruins, averaging 50 points of offense and coming off a four game win streak.
The Lady Bruins dropped into their usual 2-3 zone with soft pressure on the ball handler and challenged every Lady Challengers shot attempt, and not allowing second shot opportunities by collecting defensive rebounds and allowing only 3 Cascade Christian points in the period.
Offensively, the Lady Bruins put up 12 points in the period, however, the points did not come easily as the Lady Bruins struggled with missed opportunities. Junior guard Zoe Carlson continued her hot hand, 8 of the Lady Bruins 12 points, including two 3 pointers.
Now trailing 3-12 after the first period, the Lady Challengers worked for open shots from the outside trying to draw the Lady Bruin defense out of the paint, hitting two 3 pointers on their way to 10 points in the period.
The Lady Bruins continued to mix it up, working the ball inside to #15 Marissa Scott and Ashlyn Schofield #44, who combined for 5 of the Lady Bruins 13 points in the period. Point guard Rockette Marrington #12 led the Lady Bruins with 5 points in the period with Marrington and Carlson both hitting 3 pointers sending both teams to the locker room at the half with the Lady Bruins leading 25-13.
Both teams came out in the second half determined to slow the others offense resulting in a defensive battle, making an already difficult night of shooting even more difficult, effectively slowing scoring from both teams offenses. The Lady Bruins held Cascade Christian to just 6 points while Zoe Carlson led Lady Bruin scorers with 5 of the Lady Bruins 10 points including her fourth 3 pointer of the game.
Going into the final period leading 35-19, the Lady Challengers attacked the interior defense of the Lady Bruins, getting to the line 8 times, but only hitting 3 of 8 from the line on their way to just 7 points in the fourth. Even with the Lady Bruins only putting up 3 points in the period, the Lady Bruins secured the 10 lead to take their fifth straight win, 38-28.
” We couldn’t get the lid off the basket tonight and We really struggled to finish around the rim” coach Schofield said after the game. ” But, the girls played great defense tonight, so that saved us.
The Lady Bruins will meet with the Lady Challengers again Monday, at home with 6:00pm tip-off. However, the Lady Bruins will host the powerful Sutherlin Lady Bulldogs team TODAY, Saturday, at home, tipping-off at 3:30 this afternoon.
