The Bruin girls varsity girls basketball team took on the 24-2 #2 ranked Nyssa Lady Bulldogs in a re-match of the 2021 girls quarterfinal round.
Coming into the match-up on a three game win streak taking down St. Mary’s, South Umpqua and Harrisburg, a confident #10 ranked Bruin girls team took the floor facing a Nyssa Lady Bulldog team that came into the game known for their defense. The strong inside game of the Bruin girls would be put to the test at both ends of the floor, facing Gracie Johnson, Nyssa’s 6’5″ center.
Both teams tested the waters early, pressing into the others defense trying to expose a weakness, with both teams combining for only 4 points each at the half way point of the first period. But the Lady Bulldog defense dropped into 2-3 defense with pressure on the Bruin girls ball handlers, switching later to a man to man defense with their 6’5” center staying under the basket. The Bruin girls tried to draw the center out the key by taking Marissa Scott and Ashlyn Schofield out to the 3 point line, but the shots just did not fall for the Bruin girls early. The Lady Bulldogs defense took the Bruin girls out of their offense early, allowing only two Bruin girls, Charlie Nolte #10, and Zoe Carlson, who both hit 3’s to score in the period.
The Lady Bulldogs broke open the scoring in the middle of the first period, running up a 7 point lead and taking a 7-14 lead to start the second period. The Bruin girls adjusted and fearlessly attacked the basket, and the did not allow the Brookings-Harbor baskets to fall, fouling, and sending the Bruin girls to the line 9 times, effectively keeping the Bruin girls offense from getting any shooting rhythm. The Bruin girls would not score any points in the first half of the second period, and only hit 2 of 9 from the line, as the Lady Bulldogs stretched their lead to 14 points, putting up 11 points in the period to take an 11-25 lead into the halftime locker room.
An energized and determined Bruin girls team came out of the locker room to start the third period pressuring the Lady Bulldogs forcing Nyssa to work the ball up the court and get into the their offense, but the Bruin girls offensive woes continued. Nyssa continued to reach in and tie up Brookings-Harbor players, and the Bruin girls just could not get their outside shots to fall, as Nyssa continued clean the boards and not allow Brookings-Harbor second shot opportunities. #4, Faith Burton hit a 3 pointer for the Bruin girls, and Ashlyn Schofield, #44 hit a basket and a freethrow for 3 points. Tristan Brouillard #1 and #15 Marissa Scott both hit baskets as the Bruins scored 10 points in the period.
Nyssa continued to score, adding another 14 points in the third period and started the the final period with an 18 point, 21-39 lead, and continued to tie up Brookings-Harbor players, and foul, sending the Bruin girls to the line 6 times in the period, of which the Bruin girls would hit 3 of 6. The three made freethrows, combined with a #11 Zoe Carlson 3 pointer accounted for all 6 of the Bruin girls points in the period.
“I was thrilled with the effort and heart our kids showed tonight” coach Schofield said after the game. “We had a hard time exploiting what we saw as weaknesses, and they stifled us defensively…we just ran into a very talented team.”
With a 27-51 final score, the Nyssa Lady Bulldogs advance to the semi-final round Friday, and the Bruin girls will play for 4th place against the #6 ranked, 18-8 overall Amity Lady Warriors, Friday morning, at 10:45.
