The #5 OSAA ranked Lady Bruin basketball team made their way to Coos Bay last week to participate in the 3A State Championship Tournament and finished higher than any other Lady Bruin basketball team.
After winning Thursday afternoon and advancing to the semi-finals the Lady Bruins faced the #1 3A team in the state for a chance to reach the finals. After a devastating injury late in the first half to junior Sierra Fitzhugh, the Lady Bruins failed to advance to the finals but would have the opportunity to play for 3rd place Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Bruins matched up against the #6 ranked Burns Lady Hilanders Saturday and the Lady Bruins came to play. Again facing a team that exploited their height advantage the Lady Bruins took advantage of their strengths and used their passing game to get their shooters open outside the paint. Senior Sidney Alexander #11 led Lady Bruins scorers in the first hitting two 3’s followed by Lexi Schofield #1 who hit two mid-range baskets and a freethrow as the Lady Bruins and Lady Hilanders worked to a 13-11 first quarter Lady Bruin lead.
In the second the Lady Bruins continued, driving in to attract the defense and then dump it outside for the jumper. Again senior Sidney Alexander led the Lady Bruins with two more 3’s as senior Avana Pettus #10 picked up 4 points off of two buckets as the Lady Bruins put up 12 more points to take a 25-23 lead into the half time break.
In the third period, the Lady Hilanders made key adjustments, tightening the zone in the paint and to challenge open outside shots, and by isolating Lady Bruin sharpshooter Sidney Alexander in man to man defense, denying her open shots and forcing the Lady Bruins to beat them with a different Lady Bruin. The Lady Bruins faced a press that disrupted their ability to advance the ball and could not recover in the period as the Lady Hilander adjustments held the Lady Bruins to just one Lexi Schofield basket for a total of 2 points in the period. The offensive pressure bled over into the Lady Bruin defense that allowed 11 unanswered points in the third, giving the Lady Hilanders a 27-36 lead going into the final period.
In the final period the Lady Bruins valiantly fought for every point in the period. Lady Bruins senior guard Avanna Pettus #10 led all Lady Bruins in the final period with a 3 pointer and two baskets for 7 of the Lady Bruins 14 points. Eventhough the Lady Bruins outscored the Lady Hilanders in the final period of the 2020 season, the third quarter cold spell proved to be too much to overcome as the Lady Bruins fell to 5th place with the 41-49 loss.
Congratulations to Coach Schofield and his staff and of course the Lady Bruins for a fantastic season of ups and downs that culminated in a fantastic performance in the State Tournament.
