In their sixth game in just ten days, the Bruin girls traveled to Sutherlin Friday evening, for a 5:30pm tip-off against a strong and 7-0 Lady Bulldog team that handed the Bruin girls their first loss of the 2022 season last Saturday.
Going into Friday evenings without starting point guard Rockette Marrington, #12, and senior forward Skylar Gallagher #3, coach Schofield needed to rely on his base six players to come up big on the road, and that’s just what they did.
Both teams came out with high energy, determined to set the pace, with the Bruin girls establishing play in the paint early with #44 Ashlyn Schofield, hitting two baskets in the key and going 2 for 2 from the line. Schofield also was also one of three Bruin girls to hit beyond the arc in the first period, including Faith Burton, #4, and Zoe Carlson #11, as the Bruin girls scored 9 of their 17 points in the period from outside.
The Lady Bulldogs also picked up where they left off from last Saturday afternoons contest with guard Micah Wicks hitting 11 of Sutherlin’s 15 points in the first keeping the Lady Bulldogs close, trailing by 2 after one, 17-15.
The scoring surge in the first was a short lived wake up call for both teams who realized that this game was going to be fight, and both teams stepped up the defense in the second period as the Bruin girls worked the ball inside to Schofield and Marissa Scott #15, for 5 points, failing to take advantage at the freethrow line going 1 for 6. The Bruin girls defense held their own, holding the Lady Bulldogs to just 4 points in the period.
With the Bruin girls leading 22-19 at the half, the Bruin girls struggled with the intense Lady Bulldog press as Zoe Carlson and Ashlyn Schofield were responsible for all 5 of the Bruin girls points in the period. Three Lady Bulldogs hit for 8 points to take their first lead, 27-28 after three periods of play.
Intense defensive play dominated the second half as both teams combined for 5 total points in the final period, leaving the game tied at 30-30 after four full periods of play, sending the game to overtime. In overtime, the Lady Bulldogs added 10 points, while holding the Bruin girls scoreless, to go on and take the win 30-40.
“Really proud of the effort and tenacity tonight” coach Schofield said after the game, “Aleah muro played some huge minutes for us off the bench, our 6 regulars were just as tough as nails tonight.”
The Bruin girls will see their next action next Wednesday evening at home, taking on the 3-5 St. Mary’s Lady Crusaders at 7:00pm.
