The 2-2 Lady Bruins took to the hardwood Tuesday night against the 1-3 South Umpqua Lancers in a physical game that sent the Lady Bruins and South Umpqua Lady Lancers to the line 27 times.
A very charged Lady Bruin team took the court and came out with a smothering defense that pressed at the half court line and turned the defense up late in the quarters with a full press.
Lady Bruin point guard Sidney Alexander #11 had the hot hand early hitting two 3’s for 6 of Lady Bruin 16 points to open the game. Junior center Sierra Fitzhugh #00 also had a 3 pointer for 3 of her 5 points in the period as she battled down low for position in what would be a violent struggle for position under the hoop.
With a 5 point 16-11 lead, the Lady Bruins continued to hold their ground in the second period. The Bruins forward Shelby Jirsa #5 went off in the second, hitting four baskets for 8 of the Lady Bruin 15 points in the period.
Five Lady Lancers made it into the scorebook, but the Lady Bruin defense stayed focused on defense and held the Lady Trojans to just 12 points in the second, sending the Bruins into the half time break leading 31-23.
Clearly Coach Scofield drew up a defensive strategy for the third period, and the Lady Bruins executed. Again Sidney Alexander #11 led the way for the Lady Bruins offense, hitting for 5 points from a 3 pointer and a basket. While the Lady Bruin offense put up 11 points, the Lady Bruin defense held the Lady Lancers to just 6 points in the third, giving the Lady Bruins a 42- 29 lead going into the final period.
With a 13 point lead going into the fourth, the Lady Bruins again turned up the press, challenging the inbound play and keeping the Lady Lancers from putting together any structured offense. This created Lady Lancer turnovers which led to Lady Bruin points. Senior Sidney Alexander again led the Lady Bruins in the fourth, hitting two buckets and a 3 pointer for 7 fourth quarter points. Senior two guard Avana Pettus #10 had 4 points and sophomore Jordan Crosby #34 hit a 3 as the Lady Bruins took the 62-39 win.
“Our girls were tough as nails last night. We didn’t shoot real well, but our toughness on defense and on the boards carried us.” Coach Schofield said after the game. “Tilly Peters gave us a huge lift off the bench in the third, with some great defense and big lay-up as the Lady Lancers tried to cut into the lead late.”
“We knew it was going to be physical and they were bigger than us, so we felt it was really important to hold our ground and stand up to their physicality.” Coach Schofield went on to say. “Sidney Alexander was really tough for the Lady Lancers to control, being such a great shooter, when she drove to the basket and finished in the paint, that added dimension made her hard to stop.”
The now 3-2 Lady Bruins will be at home Friday night when the 5-0 Cascade Christian Challengers make the trip from Medford for a 5:30pm showdown at Bruin Arena.
