Adrian girls leap past Greenleaf
By Argus observer sports staff
Friday, December 21, 2007 11:36 AM PST
Greenleaf - The game was all but over after the first eight minutes of play were complete as the Adrian Antelope girls basketball team chucked in 18 points in the opening frame to Greenleaf’s 3 on their way to a 54-34 onslaught.
Greenleaf’s troubles didn’t end after the first quarter, and in the second quarter they only scored eight points, while Adrian added 14 more to its tally to lead at the break 32-11.
Adrian’s Paige Branstiter led the Antelopes with 14 points in the win and teammate Mackenzie Purnell added 10 points.
Adrian not only dominated on offense, they also controlled the boards as they outrebounded Greenleaf 43 to 28 with both Branstiter and Purnell each pulling down nine boards.
It was the Adrian defense that made all the difference in the game. Adrian head coach Gene Mills said the pressure his team applied on defense was the key as the Greenleaf shooters could not handle that pressure resulting in a low scoring output by Greenleaf.
“They are doing well. They are playing good basketball,” Mills said, “Especially our defense. We got out to a big lead in the first half and held that lead in the second half”.
The coach said that the team still needs to improve on its man-to-man defense and that they will try to get better week by week.
“We cannot rest on our laurels, the kids will have to work hard,” Mills said.
Adrian will take to the hardwood again Friday as they travel to Pine Eagle for for a 6 p.m. start.
With the win the Lady Antelopes improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in league play.
Payette 39
Melba 36
PAYETTE
After a two-game losing streak, the Payette Lady Pirates found victory in the last moments of Thursday’s game against Melba. The score was tied at 36. The game buzzer was set to go off in 1.5 seconds. Melba’s coach called a time out. It was then that Payette coach John Kowatsch drew up a quick inbounds play to go for the win.
“We drew up a play hoping his low post would come out looking for us to lob to our post, and have our post slip to the basket,” Kowatsch said. “But, I had our post screen, and had the wing take the shot.”
Payette brought the ball into play and passed the ball to freshman Hailey Gross. “She got the ball and with somebody in her face she drilled the three.” She hit the clutch three to win the game, and the sound of the buzzer rang out. The final score was 39-36.
Kowatsch also praised Shelbi King and Hillary Byers for connecting on some big shots at the end of the game.
“It was a total team effort,” Kowatsch said. “We were only playing with seven players, and we did not want to go into overtime. We were spent.”
After losing to Fruitland, the win was a much needed triumph.
“We didn’t play bad against Fruitland, we just couldn’t hit. We made some adjustments against Fruitland, and kept that up against Melba. The team really stepped it up,” Kowatsch said.
Payette, now 5-8 overall, plays New Plymouth on Jan. 3.
Fruitland 39
McCall 27
McCall
The Fruitland girls basketball team stumbled out of the gates with a 8-2 deficit then turned the screw to McCall-Donnelly, outscoring the Vandals 37-19 the rest of the way in their 39-27 win in Snake River Valley Conference girls basketball action Thursday in McCall.
Kylee Nawahine scored 11 points and Bailie Olson added nine points for the Grizzlies as they were able to come out on top despite a scoreless effort by standout Bridgette Teunissen.
Even with the rough start, the Grizzlies held the 10-8 lead after one quarter of play and went on a 13-3 second quarter run to take a 23-11 halftime lead.
Both teams scored 16 points apiece in the second half and Fruitland coasted to the easy win.
“We came out a little slow-footed to start the game out, which is typical when we travel to McCall,” Fruitland head coach Beth Holt said. “We didn’t score a lot, but anytime you can get out of McCall with a win is a good thing. It’s a difficult place to play. It wasn’t our best effort, but we played well enough to win.”
Fruitland (13-0 overall) next travels to Homedale Jan. 8.
Nyssa 37
Marsing 27
Nyssa
Genniel Wagstaff did everything but drive the bus for the Nyssa Bulldogs.
The senior guard notched 18 points, 10 rebounds and five steals to lead Nyssa to the 37-27 win over Marsing in non-league girls basketball action Thursday in Nyssa.
“She’s a stud,” Nyssa head coach Danny Pratt said. “There might not be a more important player to a team then Genniel is to this team. Every game she gets better and better.”
While Wagstaff jump-started the offense, the defense also played a major role in the win allowing their season-low 27 points on 12 Husky field goals.
After a first quarter which saw Nyssa leading by a slim 11-10 count, the Bulldogs used a 7-1 second quarter run to take an 18-11 lead into the locker room.
Nyssa extended on the lead with a 9-6 third quarter spurt and each team tallied 10 points apiece, and the Bulldogs clinched their fifth win of the season.
Wagstaff was followed up by Amanda Bittinger, who scored six points and grabbed seven boards, while Belinda Escobedo chipped in five points and another seven rebounds. Nyssa (5-3 overall) is off for the holiday and next kicks off the new year with a Jan. 3 road date against Ontario.
Homedale 53
Weiser 51
HOMEDALE
The Weiser Girls’ basketball team suffered a 53-51 overtime defeat Thursday night in Homedale.
In the last 20 seconds of overtime, with the scored tied at 51, the Lady Wolverines botched an opportunity to take the lead. Weiser was fouled and went to the line “We had a chance, and we missed the free throw,” Weiser coach Tim Erhard said.
Homedale’s Weeler stole the ball and scored, bringing the score to 53-51. Weiser then put the ball in play with seconds left on the clock and took a final shot but it didn’t go in.
“We missed a few opportunities. We were missing our two leading scorers, and that didn’t help, but that’s the way it goes,” Erhard said.
Wolverine Amanda Palmer led her team with 16 points followed by teammates Pratt and Nelson each with 10 points. Homedale’s Weeler and Rupp each finished with 12 and Brasher contributed 10. Weiser’s record falls to 6-6 overall and 1-2 in league.
