Pilgrims put an end to Vikings’ streak
Vale drops first game in six tries,New Plymouth improves to 8-4
By Wil Anderson
Argus Observer
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:58 AM PST
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| New Plymouth’s Lauren Burnside (with ball) battles with Vale’s Kayla Voorhees (right) for a loose ball during the second quarter of action. New Plymouth won the nonconference matchup 42-41. |
NEW PLYMOUTH — The New Plymouth girls basketball team had only two leads over Vale in the game.
One of those leads was when it mattered, and the other was not.
The Pilgrims were able to hold off a pesky Vale team, as they claimed their second lead with just over seven minutes to play, and never relequished that lead, as the Pilgrims held on for a 42-41 nonconference win over the Vikings, Tuesday night in New Plymouth.
The loss for Vale puts an end to their five-game winning streak.
The first lead came just seconds into the game when Sienna Edmunson scored the game’s opening basket, giving the Pilgrims a 2-0 lead.
Unfortunately for New Plymouth, Vale went on a 12-0 run the ensuing four minutes and held onto the lead until the Pilgrims were able to tie the game up in the end of the third quarter.
And then, the lead that mattered came during the fourth quarter, when Sienna Edmunson hit her second of two free throws, with 7:08 remaining of the game, to claim a 32-31 lead that they would not give up again.
The Pilgrims (8-4) were able to extend their lead to as much as 40-33, with 3:47 left to play in the game, the but the Vikings (5-4) kept chipping away at that lead, hitting 3-of-6 from the charity stripe, while mixing in a field goal and a 3-pointer in the final seconds to end the game 42-41.
“The thing I am most happy with is that we are getting better as a team,” New Plymouth head coach Denise Oliver said. “The kids off the bench had our back, with Lauren Burnside, during the first two quarters.”
During the first half of play, New Plymouth was without its leader, Edmunson, who picked up a pair of early fouls, and sat out most of the first quarter. The rest of the Pilgrims picked up the slack, keeping the game close, as Vale lead 26-21 at the half.
“When Edmunson went out, we allowed too many free throws early,” Vale head coach Jason Johnson said. “I thought we put them on the foul line too much.”
Burnside scored 15 points to lead the Pilgrims, while teammate Edmunson added 10 in the win.
Vale was led by Shelby Mooney with 15 points, while Amy Delong scored 12 points.
The Pilgrims are back in action Jan. 8, when they begin Western Idaho Conference play at home against Nampa Christian, while Vale travels to Marsing to compete in the Marsing Tournament Monday, when they play the host team.
