The 3-0 Lady Bruins traveled to South Umpqua to take on the 2-2 Lady Lancers. Knowing South Umpqua would be desperate for the win to bring themselves level with the Lady Bruins in the standings, Coach Schofield had his team ready to run. But it was the defense and the press would carry the Lady Bruins through the first half of play.
Senior center #44 Chloe McCrae established herself early on hitting two baskets and going perfect from the line for 6 points, and Sydney Alexander also had a quick start hitting two 3’s in the first quarter completing the inside-outside game plan. But again, it was the intensity of the defense that made the difference causing turnovers and Bruin scoring opportunities. The pressing Lady Bruins didn’t allow the Lady Lancers to score until late in the first period and went on to hold South Umpqua to only 8 points in the first quarter.
In the second period sophomore, Lexi Schofield #1 took over the court by scoring more points than the entire South Umpqua team in the period. Schofield hit two buckets, a 3 pointer and went perfect from the line hitting 2 of 3 from the line for 9 of the 11 Bruin points in the second period. Again the Lady Bruins held the Lady Lancers to only 8 points in the second quarter and took a 33-16 lead to the locker room at the half.
If there is any criticism to made regarding Coach Schofield teams, it is the play of Lady Bruins teams after the half time break. Consistently after the half, teams from last season and now into this season, the Lady Bruins come out flat in the third period allowing opposing teams to gain confidence, close point gaps and make close games out of games that were not close at the half.
Last nights game was one of those games. The Lady Bruins again came out flat and had a long period with minimal scoring. Schofield hit a 3, sophomore Sierra Fitzhugh #00 hit a basket and Chloe McCrae hit for 2 points, and the Lady Bruins went 0-4 from the line in the period. This allowed the South Umpqua to get 5 different scorers in the book, outscoring the Lady Bruins 7-13 in the period.
However, the fourth period is consistently a different story. There is no lack of intensity, ever, of a Lady Bruin team that wants to close out a game. Again Lexi Schofield, who led all scorers in the contest with 22 points, hit two 3 pointers, sophomore Sierra Fitzhugh #00 hit a 3 pointer and went 2 for 2 from the free throw line, and senior Mickey Fulton #2 hit a bucket and two free throws for 4 of her 8 points in the game. The Bruins would score 18 points in the final quarter while holding the Lady Lancers to just 10 points and took a convincing 58-39 win back to the bus before the long ride home.
After the game, we talked with Coach Schofield who said, “The girls took control early in the game and just kept extending the lead.” “We had a long scoring lull in the third period. South Umpqua did a good job getting us out of our rhythm, but we were able to settle back in and extend the lead again.” he went on to say.
The Lady Bruins will see action again next Friday, January 25th against the 2-2 Cascade Christian Challengers at 7:30 pm.
Please Like, Share and Follow the …
