A team win

Lindsay Schnell could hardly wait to address the Corvallis High girls basketball team on Monday night.

Corvallis’ assistant coach was so proud of the way the Spartans played in a 57-48 win over Thurston that should could have kissed someone.

The Spartans improved to 3-0 with the win, and once again played well in the fourth quarter to walk off their home court with a victory. There may have been moments Monday when it looked like the Spartans may not come back.

But they showed a renewed enthusiasm for the game and kept battling, especially defensively.

And Katie Schrock provided an offensive spark that could be just what the Spartans need to open up the inside game as she hit four 3-pointers and had 11 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter.

But while Schrock was a key off the bench, Monday was a team win, as coach Joe Williamson was quick to point out. Alaina Adams was all over the floor, and took on the responsibility of bringing the ball up the floor when Thurston tried to take point guard Gabe Johnson out of the equation. She finished with eight points.

Johnson, despite being double- and triple-teamed, found a way to score 10 points, including hitting some key free throws.

Then there was Kayla Laney, playing well in the post and scoring nine points. Eva Oriakhi also hit some key free throws, worked hard on the glass and scored six points.

As a team, the Spartans had 17 offensive rebounds, many led to easy baskets.

It was a night if excitement and joy for the Spartans, but they know there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. Too many missed free throws early were nearly costly. Open 3-point shots.

And they have yet to play on the road, something they get to experience on Friday night when they travel to Sherwood to take on a tough Bowmen team that Williamson thinks may be ranked in the top 5 of the coaches poll this week.

And when you start thinking about common opponents with league teams, Thurston lost by three at crosstown rival Crescent Valley last Friday, and Sherwood defeated Silverton by seven last week.

What does that all mean? Nothing really, but it gives the players something to gage themselves against. Of course, they are really just focused on getting better each day.