Hey all, just a short recap for now and not sure when I will get something up more on this game but I will. Girls played hard and had a good game but couldn't quite pull it out. It's off to Disneyland on Wednesday so I doubt I will write tonight or tomorrow. It's been a long, but enjoyable, four days so far!
VAN NUYS, Calif. -- Syree Gerner had 23 points and McKenzie Redberg added 15 but the Corvallis High girls basketball team dropped a tough 76-69 double-overtime decision to Oaks Christian (Calif.) in the title game of the Winter Slam Jam tournament at Van Nuys High School on Tuesday night.
The Spartans led by seven late in the fourth quarter but Oaks Christian was able to tie the game with 9 seconds left in regulation. Oaks Christian had the ball and a chance to win in the first overtime but didn't get a shot off.
Finally, thanks to the play of tournament MVP Katie Brooks, Oaks Christian was able to pull away in the second overtime.
Brooks led all scorers with 37 points, including 18 in the two overtime periods.
CHS led 10-0 and was up 37-22 at the half, but Oaks Christian used a 23-11 advantage in the third quarter to get back in the game.
Gerner, Redberg and Gabe Johnson were named to the all-tournament team.
Katie Schrock added 13 points for the Spartans, who fall to 6-2 and will open Mid-Willamette Conference play on Jan. 6 at home against Woodburn.
Oaks Christian 76, Corvallis 69 (2OT)
CORVALLIS 16 21 11 10 7 4 -- 69
OAKS CHRISTIAN 9 13 23 13 7 11 -- 76
Corvallis: Syree Gerner 23, M. Redberg 15, Schrock 13, Johnson 6, Adams 5, Kay. Laney 4, W. Redberg 2, Kar. Laney 1
Oaks Christian: Katie Brooks 37, Owusu 14, Barrett 12, Roce 5, Au-Speakes 4, Landa 4, Cooper
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Headed to the championship game
After playing two teams they could dominate, the Corvallis High girls basketball team was up to the challenge against a physical Sierra Canyon team on Monday at the Winter Slam Jam Tournament.
And while Sierra Canyon made an initial statement by taking a 10-6 lead four minutes into the game.
But that was about it for Sierra Canyon as the Spartans cranked up the defense and held Sierra Canyon to seven points over the final 12 minutes of the first half.
The result was a solid 61-40 win for the Spartans that put them into the championship game against either Oaks Christian or North Hollywood. That game will be played at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
"It was much more competitive and we had to play a lot more aggressive and the team was a lot better than before," sophomore Syree Gerner said.
Gerner led the Spartans (6-1) with 14 points while McKenzie Redberg added 13. Katie Schrock, who had to play with glasses after ripping a contact lense earlier in the day, added nine, along with Kayla Laney, who is battling a bad case of allergies.
Sierra Canyon played a physical game and constantly harrassed the Spartans even after rebounds. CHS was up to the task most of the time.
"I think our team actually sort of likes it and we play pretty good against it," Gerner said. "I think people adapted to it and got more used to it and we started to play harder and it was fun."
The Spartans won despite point guard Gabe Johnson in foul trouble most of the game.
The Spartans took a 40-17 lead into the half on back-to-back 3-pointers by Schrock and Redberg. Schrock's three left the net stuck on the rin, and Redberg's brought it back down to its normal position.
Corvallis will have another tough test no matter which team it plays. But the Spartans are ready for all challengers and want to take the tournament title home to Oregon.
Corvallis 61, Sierra Canyon 40
SIERRA CANYON 10 7 13 10 -- 40
CORVALLIS 15 25 13 8 -- 61
Sierra Canyon: Brenda Kramer 13, Sneed 9, Schneider 7, wells 6, Lozano 4, Oni 1, Wannamaker, Norris, Carney, Jones
Corvallis: Syree Gerner 14, M. Redberg 13, Schrock 9, Kay. Laney 9, Adams 8, Johnson 6, Kar. Laney 2, Hendrickson 0, McGowan, W. Redberg
And while Sierra Canyon made an initial statement by taking a 10-6 lead four minutes into the game.
But that was about it for Sierra Canyon as the Spartans cranked up the defense and held Sierra Canyon to seven points over the final 12 minutes of the first half.
The result was a solid 61-40 win for the Spartans that put them into the championship game against either Oaks Christian or North Hollywood. That game will be played at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
"It was much more competitive and we had to play a lot more aggressive and the team was a lot better than before," sophomore Syree Gerner said.
Gerner led the Spartans (6-1) with 14 points while McKenzie Redberg added 13. Katie Schrock, who had to play with glasses after ripping a contact lense earlier in the day, added nine, along with Kayla Laney, who is battling a bad case of allergies.
Sierra Canyon played a physical game and constantly harrassed the Spartans even after rebounds. CHS was up to the task most of the time.
"I think our team actually sort of likes it and we play pretty good against it," Gerner said. "I think people adapted to it and got more used to it and we started to play harder and it was fun."
The Spartans won despite point guard Gabe Johnson in foul trouble most of the game.
The Spartans took a 40-17 lead into the half on back-to-back 3-pointers by Schrock and Redberg. Schrock's three left the net stuck on the rin, and Redberg's brought it back down to its normal position.
Corvallis will have another tough test no matter which team it plays. But the Spartans are ready for all challengers and want to take the tournament title home to Oregon.
Corvallis 61, Sierra Canyon 40
SIERRA CANYON 10 7 13 10 -- 40
CORVALLIS 15 25 13 8 -- 61
Sierra Canyon: Brenda Kramer 13, Sneed 9, Schneider 7, wells 6, Lozano 4, Oni 1, Wannamaker, Norris, Carney, Jones
Corvallis: Syree Gerner 14, M. Redberg 13, Schrock 9, Kay. Laney 9, Adams 8, Johnson 6, Kar. Laney 2, Hendrickson 0, McGowan, W. Redberg
Sunday, December 28, 2008
A fun day in California
Hey all, not much time to write but here are some photos from our day at Hollywood and then Venice Beach. Sorry not much from the beach.
Here is the team in front of the Hollywood sign (in the way back).
Jessica McGowan looking cool sporting the new shades!
Gabe Johnson doing some shopping.
Steve Gress and McKenzie Redberg being attacked by Michael Meyers and Jason Vorhies. We love horror movies!
Whitney Redberg, Katie Schrock, Syree Gerner and McKenzie Redberg get ready to take in the sights in Hollywood.
Alaina Adams and Karly Laney at Venice Beach.
The famous Beverly Hills Hotel sign
Stewart Laney and her favorite daughter (sorry Karly!) Kayla Laney.
The Fab five of from left, karly Laney, Kayla Laney, McKenzie Redberg, Leah Seitz and Gabe Johnson pose with their own star.
It's the one and only Josie Williamson being cool like usual. Also pictured are coach Tom Cox, Koby Williamson and coach Joe Williamson.
Alaina Adams, Katie Schrock, Marisa Hendrickson and Karly Laney wait in the parking garage in Hollywood.
The Spartans are back in action at 6 p.m. on Monday so check back to see if they can knock off Sierra Canyon in the semifinals.
Here is the team in front of the Hollywood sign (in the way back).
Jessica McGowan looking cool sporting the new shades!
Gabe Johnson doing some shopping.
Steve Gress and McKenzie Redberg being attacked by Michael Meyers and Jason Vorhies. We love horror movies!
Whitney Redberg, Katie Schrock, Syree Gerner and McKenzie Redberg get ready to take in the sights in Hollywood.
Alaina Adams and Karly Laney at Venice Beach.
The famous Beverly Hills Hotel sign
Stewart Laney and her favorite daughter (sorry Karly!) Kayla Laney.
The Fab five of from left, karly Laney, Kayla Laney, McKenzie Redberg, Leah Seitz and Gabe Johnson pose with their own star.
It's the one and only Josie Williamson being cool like usual. Also pictured are coach Tom Cox, Koby Williamson and coach Joe Williamson.
Alaina Adams, Katie Schrock, Marisa Hendrickson and Karly Laney wait in the parking garage in Hollywood.
The Spartans are back in action at 6 p.m. on Monday so check back to see if they can knock off Sierra Canyon in the semifinals.
An impressive perfromance (or two)
Not even 16 hours of travel was going to slow down the Corvallis HIgh girls basketball team on Saturday.
And you can forget about those two weeks without a game as well.
No, the Spartans are on a mission it seems.
They want to get back to the Spartans of 2007-08. You know that team that would outwork anybody they faced.
And they want to prove to another state just how good they can be.
"We wanted to come out and send a message that we can beat anybody," senior McKenzie Redberg said. "We are here and we want to represent our school and our state."
So far so good as the Spartans (5-1) dispatched two overmatched opponents on Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the Winter Slam Jam at Van Nuys High School in Malibu, Calif.
The Spartans took out their frustrations of the travel day, two weeks of snowouts and two poor performances against Willamette and Hermiston the last time they played against Viewpoint (Calif.)
Corvallis scored the first 32 points of the game and had so thoroughly dominated Viewpoint that a parent walked over to the Corvallis bench during a timeout two minutes into the second quarter and said, "Do you know it's Christmas coach? You could take the press off, it's 32-0."
The parent was quickly dealt with and escorted back to the other side of the gym.
It was a tough situation as coach Joe Williamson was about to tale the press off but he also knew his team couldn't stop playing hard because they needed the floor time to continue to improve.
Of course the fullcourt press was taken off but that did little to slow the Spartans.
Viewpoint hit two free throws to end the scoring drought with 6:04 to play in the quarter. However, it would not score again for more than a half of play as CHS led 71-2 early in the fourth quarter.
"I didn't know what to do," Redberg said afterwards.
No one did, really.
Gabe Johnson had 17 points, Katie Schrock 14 and Karly Laney 13 for Corvallis as every player saw significant minutes and every player but Jessica McGowan scored.
The team left the gym for dinner and came back to face St. Genevieve (Calif.) with a chance to advance to the championship bracket out of pool play.
And while St. Genevieve was able to take an early 4-0 lead after some sluggish play on both ends by the Spartans, it was not a sign of things to come.
The Spartans responded with an 11-0 run and firmly took control of the game, eventually winning 92-33.
All five starters scored in double figures led by Redberg's 20. Kayla Laney added 15 points, Alaina Adams and Johnson 14 each and Schrock 13. Even McGowan got into the scoring column with a free throw as all 10 players scored.
But what was nice to see was the effort the players exhibited throughout the two games. Even with big leads they were not about to slow down.
Case in point, in the third quarter against St. Genevieve the Spartans led by 30, yet Johnson and Redberg had steals on six straight possessions, with Redberg outrunning a St. Genevieve player for the ball and ended up with a layup to put CHS up 66-21.
"What I like about this tournament is we don't know anything about these teams and what to expect, so we have to go out hard no matter what and I think that is good for our team," Redberg said.
It wasn't just the defense that was solid, the offense used good passing and finished with 27 assists on 41 made baskets against St. Genevieve, and had 20 assists on 35 made baskets against Viewpoint.
Next up is a date at 6 p.m. on Monday against Sierra Canyon. Also in the semifinals are Oaks Christian and North Hollywood.
Corvallis 79, Viewpoint (Calif.) 12
VIEWPOINT 0 2 0 10 -- 12
CORVALLIS 23 26 19 11 -- 79
Viewpoint: Troxler 7, Winters 3, Keane 2, Trainer, Kessler, Alters, Davis, Hsu, Reeb, Rose, Sage
Corvallis: Gabe Johnson 17, Schrock 14, Kar. Laney 13, M. Redberg 9, Gerner 8, Kay. Laney 7, Adams 6, Hendrickson 3, W. Redberg 2
Corvallis 92, St. Genevieve 33
ST. GENEVIEVE 12 8 3 10 -- 33
CORVALLIS 24 19 30 19 -- 92
St. Genevieve: Michele Espinueva 9, Megan 9, Cadiz 7, Manasco 5, Alvarez 2, Alvaringo 1, DeGuia, Martinez
Corvallis: McKenzie Redberg 20, Kay. Laney 14, Johnson 14, Adams 14, Schrock 13, Gerner 7, W. Redberg 4, Hendrickson 2, Kar. Laney 2, McGowan 1
Saturday, December 27, 2008
A very, very, very, very long day of traveling
Let's hope the rest of the trip goes a little bit better than Friday.
Members of the Corvallis High girls basketball team had quite a long day of traveling as the plane that was taking 10 of the players, three coaches and numerous parents spent way too much time in the San Jose airport after having their flight to LAX delayed.
The team was on it's way for four games at a tournament in Malibu, Calif.
At first, the team thought they would have to spend close to five hours delayed in San Jose, but then Lindsay Schnell and Nova Sweet (special thanks goes to Southwest Airlines employee Cindy for helping out) were able to get the team on an earlier flight.
Or so they thought.
The flight they were switched to was then delayed and more time was needed to be killed.
So the players gathered in a circle and played the sign game that was taught by Tom Cox. That was enough to keep the team occupied during the looooonnnnnggg delay.
It was a fun plane ride for me from PDX to San Jose, as I was able to sit with former Crescent Valley High standout Elizabeth Doran, who is one of my all-time favorite players to watch and a 2005 graduate of CV. She is a senior at Santa Clara and a starter on the women's basketball team.
Doran was going to be just a little late to her practice Friday night as her flight arrived at close to 6 p.m., the same time she was supposed to be at practice. Good thing the campus is 10 minutes away from the airport.
It was fun catching up with Doran, who will graduate this spring. And she wished the team good luck in the tournament as well as the season, except, of course, when they player the Raiders.
While the team was stuck in San Jose, coach Joe Williamson and his family made it to LAX pretty much on time, as they left about an hour earlier than the rest of the team. Earlier, Katie Schrock and her family flew out from Portland and spent the day at their desired destination.
The players remained in good spirits, thanks in large part to Tom's game. You could hear Leah Seitz's and Karly Laney's voices and giggles as the game raged on 40 feet away.
We were finally able to board our flight at around 9:50 p.m. and we touched down at LAX at around 10:50 p.m.
Then, to make matters worse, our luggage never made it on our flight. So after waiting around a while, it was decided to send the players to the hotel while most of the adults stuck around to wait for the original flight to land, hoping the luggage was on that flight.
Fortunately, it was. The players arrived at the motel around 12:40 and waited for the other van to arrive with their luggage before settling in for must have felt like a much-needed night's rest.
The first game Saturday is set for 3:30 p.m., that is if we aren't delayed any more.
Check back here for updates as I have time to provide them. I'm hoping to have them up as soon as I can!
Monday, December 15, 2008
No moral victories
It was like something out of a dream.
Let’s rephrase that.
It was like something out of a nightmare for the Corvallis High girls basketball team on Saturday.
The Spartans were coming off a disappointing 46-44 loss to second-ranked Willamette on Friday in the opening game of the Sherwood Yuletide tournament.
The Spartans had not played their best, yet still had a chance to tie or win the game on the final possesion.
But it was not meant to be as Gabe Johnson’s driving layup failed to drop.
So the players were ready to regroup on Saturday against a Hermiston team that looked nothing like the one that knocked the Spartans off in the quarterfinals of the 5A state tournament last year and reached the state title game.
It looked like it might be just what the team needed to get over the loss to Willamette.
After a quick start, though, the Spartans found themselves up just 21-17 with six minutes to play in the first half.
But a typical 12-0 Spartans run pushed the lead to 33-17 and it looked like it could turn into another blowout as CHS led 40-26 lead at the half.
It was even better at 44-26 after a Katie Schrok 3-pointer with 5:51 to go in the third quarter.
But then something strange happened.
Something extremely strange, that is.
All of a sudden the Spartans could not score.
They left Hermiston players open.
And they didn’t block out very well.
It almost looked like they were in slow motion.
Little by little Hermiston clawed its way back into the game.
First the Bulldogs cut the deficit to single digits thanks to a 3-pointer by Hannah Whitsett with 3:14 left in the quarter that made it a 10-1 run.
Then they were within three after a three-point play with 53 seconds left in the quarter.
Then it was one after an improbable and unbelievable 18-1 run.
The Spartans managed just two free throws in the final 5:51 of the quarter and led 46-44.
Ironically that was the final score of the Willamette game a day earlier.
It looked like the Spartans had weathered the storm by scoring the eight of the first nine points of the fourth quarter to appear to regain control at 54-46 with 6:05 to play.
But back came Hermiston. While the Bulldogs were making shots, the Spartans were missing from the floor and the free-throw line.
All of a sudden a Hermiston basket with 17 seconds left and the lead was a single point.
This can't be happening.
But it was.
The Spartans got the ball in to Johnson. The officials finally called a foul on Hermiston after Johnson was hit several times, including once by a girl who used a two-handed shove in an attempt to put Johnson on the line (that wasn’t the player called for a foul, however).
Johnson, who was just 7 of 14 from the line up to that point, calmly sank both free throws and the Spartans were able to hold on.
The locker room was anything but happy with the win.
These days, as coach Joe Williamson said, there are no moral wins.
No, winning by three against a team you are capable of beating by 20-30 points, is anything but a win.
That was the feeling on Saturday, and it remained the feeling for Alaina Adams after church on Sunday.
For whatever reason, the Spartans played nothing like what they are capable of playing.
The film session that was scheduled for Monday, would be anything but pleasant to watch.
(Maybe the snow that canceled school would cancel practice, but I doubt any player wanted to miss).
The Spartans will need to learn from the weekend if they hope to reach their ultimate goal.
They need to get back to out-working teams. That is what got the players to where they were at the end of the season a year ago. It's what it will take to win the Mid-Willamette Conference and advance to the state tournament.
The Spartans may very well see this same Hermiston team with a trip to the Chiles Center on the line. Letting the Bulldogs believe they can hang with them was not what Williamson and the staff wanted to see.
The first chance to get back on track comes Tuesday with a home game against Marshfield.
That is, if the snow everyone seemed excited for so they didn’t have to go to school on Tuesday, allows.
Corvallis 58, Hermiston 55
CORVALLIS 16 24 6 12 — 58
HERMISTON 9 17 18 11 — 55
Corvallis: Gabe Johnson 18, Adams 11, M. Redberg 11, Schrock 9, Kay. Laney 5, Kar. Laney 2, Gerner 2, Hendrickson, W. Redberg
Hermiston: Hannah Whitset 21, Pedro 8, Barnitz 8, Moss 5, Schmidt 4, Crossley 3, Walchli 2, Barnett 2, Hays 2, Webb, Davis
Friday, December 12, 2008
In need of a little confidence
For as far as the Corvallis High girls basketball team has come over the past 18 months, there are still moments where doubt can creep in.
Being told you are a good team and believing it can be two different things when you are on the basketball court, especially when you face an equally talented team.
While the No. 3-ranked Spartans made a statement to themselves in some ways with Tuesday night's 69-39 blowout of Wilsonville, doubt may still have been lingering as they headed into Friday afternoon's showdown with No. 2 Willamette at the Sherwood Yuletide tournament.
That lack of confidence was evident during stretches of Friday's game. And when the dust had settled, the Spartans were on the short end of a 46-44 score.
"I don't think anyone will admit it, but I think we are still mentally thinking it's Willamette," senior Kayla Laney said. "Obvioulsy we can beat them; I know we can beat them."
Senior point guard Gabe Johnson agreed.
"I just think sometimes we might doubt ourselves," she said. "We've never really become like a team before, like a top state team. It's the first time for us and we're all getting used to it."
Corvallis and Willamette played a number of close games during summer league action.
Friday was no different.
Corvallis led 14-13 after the first quarter and 20-19 at the half, despite missing all six free-throw attempts, including the front end of two one-and-ones. As coach Joe Williamson said at the half, you hit six of those and you lead by seven, instead of one, at the half.
The Spartans were just 5 of 13 from the line for the game.
"Free throws made the difference," Laney said. "If we would have made our free throws we would have beat them by at least 10 or more."
Despite the apparent lack of confidence at times during the game, the Spartans still had a chance to win the game.
Willamette held a 44-35 lead with 5:06 to play but the Spartans managed to fight back. Alaina Adams had a basket and McKenzie Redberg followed with a steal and layup. Redberg then scored off a steal by Katie Schrock to make it 44-41 with 3:04 left.
After Willamette hit two free throws to make it 46-41, Johnson hit a 3 from the corner with 9 seconds left. Another missed free throw by Willamette gave CHS a chance to tie the game.
Laney grabbed the rebound of the missed free throw and got the ball to Johnson, who drove the lane but saw her layup attempt miss allowing Willamette to escape with the win.
"We shouldn't have been down nine," WIlliamson said. "But it happens. We called timeout and talked about what we had to do to get back in it and the girls really worked hard that last (five) minutes to make it a game where we could have won it."
Added Johnson: "It shows that we don't give up. We work as hard as we can until the buzzer rings and the game is over."
Corvallis led 20-19 at the half but had a hard time containing Willamette's Sunny Greinacher in the third as the Wolverines took a 35-32 lead. The Wolverines' 6-foot-4 post scored 11 of her game-high 20 points in the quarter. She had nine in the first half but missed some time after picking up her third foul.
"Mentally, what coach would say is we had a brain fart, if you will," Laney said. "We didn't have helpside a couple of times. We let the ball in too deep a couple of times. The little things are what made the big things enough (and why) we lost by two."
Johnson said the score is one indicator of how the game went, but not the only thing that the players should take away from the game.
"The score doesn't matter," she said. "I think a score should be how hard you play and if you can stay in it and (if you can) stay in it and win it then it just shows how much passion (you have) for the game."
Laney had a similar thought and tried to put the game and late comeback in perspective.
"I think we've grown a lot as a team and just to be able to do that especially since in the past few games we've blown teams out of the water," she said. "I'm glad we were able to physically and mentally be able to come back like that. It shows a lot of growth."
But it still has to be frustrating to know you are so close to winning but to come up short again.
"We had a toughshooting night," Williamson said. "If we could have shot the ball even remotely to what we're capable of, things would have been different.
"They're a good team, we're a good team and it was a good game."
So what happens next?
The Spartans will be able to answer that question on Saturday when they take on Hermiston.
"We're definately going to take it out on the other team," Johnson said.
Willamette 46, Corvallis 44
WILLAMETTE 13 6 16 11 -- 46
CORVALLIS 14 6 12 12 -- 44
Willamette: Sunny Greinacher 20, Bruns 14, Smith 6, Mahaffie 4, Collins 2, Garner, Harper, Crane, Munson, Robertson
Corvallis: Gabe Johnson 15, Adams 8, M. Redberg 8, Schrock 7, Kay. Laney 4, Kar. Laney 2, Gerner, W. Redberg
Being told you are a good team and believing it can be two different things when you are on the basketball court, especially when you face an equally talented team.
While the No. 3-ranked Spartans made a statement to themselves in some ways with Tuesday night's 69-39 blowout of Wilsonville, doubt may still have been lingering as they headed into Friday afternoon's showdown with No. 2 Willamette at the Sherwood Yuletide tournament.
That lack of confidence was evident during stretches of Friday's game. And when the dust had settled, the Spartans were on the short end of a 46-44 score.
"I don't think anyone will admit it, but I think we are still mentally thinking it's Willamette," senior Kayla Laney said. "Obvioulsy we can beat them; I know we can beat them."
Senior point guard Gabe Johnson agreed.
"I just think sometimes we might doubt ourselves," she said. "We've never really become like a team before, like a top state team. It's the first time for us and we're all getting used to it."
Corvallis and Willamette played a number of close games during summer league action.
Friday was no different.
Corvallis led 14-13 after the first quarter and 20-19 at the half, despite missing all six free-throw attempts, including the front end of two one-and-ones. As coach Joe Williamson said at the half, you hit six of those and you lead by seven, instead of one, at the half.
The Spartans were just 5 of 13 from the line for the game.
"Free throws made the difference," Laney said. "If we would have made our free throws we would have beat them by at least 10 or more."
Despite the apparent lack of confidence at times during the game, the Spartans still had a chance to win the game.
Willamette held a 44-35 lead with 5:06 to play but the Spartans managed to fight back. Alaina Adams had a basket and McKenzie Redberg followed with a steal and layup. Redberg then scored off a steal by Katie Schrock to make it 44-41 with 3:04 left.
After Willamette hit two free throws to make it 46-41, Johnson hit a 3 from the corner with 9 seconds left. Another missed free throw by Willamette gave CHS a chance to tie the game.
Laney grabbed the rebound of the missed free throw and got the ball to Johnson, who drove the lane but saw her layup attempt miss allowing Willamette to escape with the win.
"We shouldn't have been down nine," WIlliamson said. "But it happens. We called timeout and talked about what we had to do to get back in it and the girls really worked hard that last (five) minutes to make it a game where we could have won it."
Added Johnson: "It shows that we don't give up. We work as hard as we can until the buzzer rings and the game is over."
Corvallis led 20-19 at the half but had a hard time containing Willamette's Sunny Greinacher in the third as the Wolverines took a 35-32 lead. The Wolverines' 6-foot-4 post scored 11 of her game-high 20 points in the quarter. She had nine in the first half but missed some time after picking up her third foul.
"Mentally, what coach would say is we had a brain fart, if you will," Laney said. "We didn't have helpside a couple of times. We let the ball in too deep a couple of times. The little things are what made the big things enough (and why) we lost by two."
Johnson said the score is one indicator of how the game went, but not the only thing that the players should take away from the game.
"The score doesn't matter," she said. "I think a score should be how hard you play and if you can stay in it and (if you can) stay in it and win it then it just shows how much passion (you have) for the game."
Laney had a similar thought and tried to put the game and late comeback in perspective.
"I think we've grown a lot as a team and just to be able to do that especially since in the past few games we've blown teams out of the water," she said. "I'm glad we were able to physically and mentally be able to come back like that. It shows a lot of growth."
But it still has to be frustrating to know you are so close to winning but to come up short again.
"We had a toughshooting night," Williamson said. "If we could have shot the ball even remotely to what we're capable of, things would have been different.
"They're a good team, we're a good team and it was a good game."
So what happens next?
The Spartans will be able to answer that question on Saturday when they take on Hermiston.
"We're definately going to take it out on the other team," Johnson said.
Willamette 46, Corvallis 44
WILLAMETTE 13 6 16 11 -- 46
CORVALLIS 14 6 12 12 -- 44
Willamette: Sunny Greinacher 20, Bruns 14, Smith 6, Mahaffie 4, Collins 2, Garner, Harper, Crane, Munson, Robertson
Corvallis: Gabe Johnson 15, Adams 8, M. Redberg 8, Schrock 7, Kay. Laney 4, Kar. Laney 2, Gerner, W. Redberg
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Taking out their frustrations
Several players left practice Monday night feeling a bit frustrated with the way the previous two hours had gone.
It was not the most productive and fun time over the four-plus weeks the girls had been together.
Coach Joe Williamson had yelled a bit more than usual and wasn't around at the end as the players shot free throws and ran for misses.
They even had a homework assignment for that night from basketball. They had to write down why making excuses wasn't the right thing to do whenever Williamson tried to coach them.
"We just talked about maybe not making excuses for everything that I try to correct and coach them on," Williamson said Tuesday night. "It's not always unplanned to not have a smooth practice before a game, let's put it that way."
The experience proved to turn out positive for most. In fact, many of the notecards turned into much longer papers.
"While you are writing why excuses aren't good, you're like, 'This is what I need to do to be better,' " junior Katie Schrock said. "It's going to be a better season if we all step up and know what we're doing wrong, fix it and play even harder."
The lesson seemed to pay dividends right away.
The Spartans took that frustration out on Wilsonville, a team that finished third in the state tournament a season ago.
Behind Schrock's 26 points, 18 of which came on 3-pointers, the Spartans rolled to a 69-39 road win that makes them 2-0.
The Spartans had plenty of motivation on Tuesday night.
"I think that a lot of us were kind of fired up about having a bad practice," senior Karly Laney said. "It just kind of brings the whole entire team down. I know I was upset, I knew Z was upset and we talked before the game and said, 'Let's just show the coaches that we had an off practice and prove it with the game.' "
The Spartans certainly proved they are a team to be reckoned with. The Wildcats barely had a chance to get started. And after Wilsonville missed two free throws 43 seconds into the game, the Spartans put on the pressure and scored eight points in 50 seconds to seize the advantage they needed.
Four players -- Schrock, Gabe Johnson, McKenzie Redberg and Alaina Adams -- had baskets in that 8-0 run, and when Kayla Laney scored at 4:27, the Spartans had five baskets by five different players and a 10-2 lead.
"They came out very aggressive," Williamson said. "We talked to them about coming out aggressive and taking it to them. Throw the first punch and keep punching."
That's exactly what the Spartans did.
Still, the Wildcats were within striking distance with 4:50 left in the first half, down just 24-17.
But the Spartans used a 14-1 spurt, with Karly Laney scoring six points and Schrock and Redberg each hitting 3s during the stretch to make it a 38-18 lead at the half.
"It was really nice," Schrock said of the run. "When we came in the huddle with like 2:38 left on the clock, Joe was like, "If you step on it right now you could just blow them out and come into the second half and go even harder, and there's no looking back.' That's kind of what we did."
The Spartans remained focused at the half.
"It was good but when we walked into the locker room none of us really knew what the score was or anything," Karly Laney said. "We just kind of knew that we were ahead by more than 10 I guess."
Both teams had a hard time scoring at the start of the third quarter, and Wilsonville managed to cut the deficit to 41-24 with 4:53 left in the third.
But then came another Spartans run, this time it was 13-0 before a 3-pointer at the buzzer ended that streak. Again, five players scored in the run with Adams, Johnson, Schrock, Syree Gerner and Karly Laney scoring.
"Last year we were learning just about competing and learning to win and this year I think we're learning how to put pressure on people and keep the pressure on them and try to extend the lead," Williamson said.
Schrock's 3 with 15 seconds left in the third put CHS up 53-24. She then hit back-to-back 3s to open the fourth quarter, and put CHS up 64-30 with 5:37 left with her sixth 3 of the game.
"I knew she was taking a lot (of shots)," Karly Laney said of Schrock. "Usually I was screening for her so my back was to her and I heard everybody scream and I'm like, 'She made it.' She lit it up second half."
It's the second straight game that Schrock has led the Spartans in scoring. She and Johnson each had 13 in a win over West Salem last week. The uptempo game the Spartans displayed on Tuesday was right up Schrock's alley.
"I don't like slow games at all," she said. "It doesn't take me out, but I just feel like everything is in slow motion, so when it's going faster I feel like I can play without thinking."
While the offensive night was obviously solid, so too was the defense for the most part. Again, the Corvallis posts were undersized with Wilsonville boasting posts that were 6-foot (Kellie Krueger) and 6-3 (Ashley Walters). Throw in 5-11 Megan Arnoldy and the Wildcats definately held the size advantage.
"The big thing was the posts were very good and they could have played better but something was off and they weren't clicking which gave us a step ahead," Karly Laney said. "(Our) wings were playing great D and they couldn't get the ball into the posts. We just worked as a unit on defense.
"The posts were fronting the other posts pretty good. There were a couple points where we could have been in front of the posts better. I think we had good help side but one thing we were having a hard time was the transition of help help side. We had a little problem with that. Also getting back on D a couple of times, the other posts would switch up who would take the ball out and we would get confused and the other post had an easy breakaway.
"For the most part I think we played very good defense."
The Spartans will need to play with that same intensity and passion on Friday when they square off against No. 2-ranked Willamette at 3:30 p.m. in the Sherwood tournament. The teams have had some spirited games over the summer and Willamette has a transfer post that could make a difference.
"I'm pretty pumped for Willamette," Karly Laney said. "Definately think that we can compete with Willamette. I think that it will be a very good game and a tough game. We're just going to have to stick with it and keep our minds in the game and not let fouls or shots or anything get in the way."
However, the outcome won't be a deal-breaker either way.
"I think if we win it doesn't make us any better than we are right now and if we lose it doesn't make us any worse," Williamson said. "I know the girls are competitive and want to win the game. I'm competitive and love a challenge and this is definately a challenge. Win or lose we still have to beat that team maybe at state. It's more a matter that we are getting better. I'm not going to lie, I want to beat them."
Corvallis 69, Wilsonville 39
CORVALLIS 16 22 15 16 -- 69
WILSONVILLE 9 9 9 12 -- 39
Corvallis: Katie Schrock 26, Adams 9, Kar. Laney 8, M. Redberg 8, Gerner 8, Johnson 7, Kay. Laney 2, Clark 1, Hendrickson, McGowan, W. Redberg
Wilsonville: Kellie Krueger 11, Arnoldy 10, Clark 9, Walters 3, Riewald 2, Moore 2, Bullock 2, Cohn, Rhodes, Easterly, Alberts, Britsch
JV: Wilsonville 61, Corvallis 58
Freshman: Corvallis won
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Strong start to the season
All championship caliber teams have to overcome some kind of adversity throughout the course of a season.
The Corvallis High girls basketball team was no stranger to facing adversity last season. The Spartans played through the loss of point guard Gabe Johnson after she was ejected from a game at a tournament at Lake Oswego over the Christmas break; senior Eva Oriakhi was lost for the season with a knee injury early into the Mid-Willamette Conference season; and first-team all-conference standout McKenzie Redberg suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of the 5A state tournament opener against Hermiston and was done for the year.
The Spartans battled back from a big defict against Aloha in the Lake Oswego tournament without Johnson only to come up two points short. They had other players step up in the post to make up for the loss of Oriakhi down low and finished tied for the MWC title. And they won their final two games of the season without Redberg to take home fourth place at the state tournament.
So with a deep and experienced team returning for the 2008-09 season and expectations at an all-time high for the program, it probably shouldn't have come as any surprise that the Spartans would face a little bit of adversity in their season-opener on Thursday night.
And they did to some degree, althought they didn't lose any player to injury and were never seriously threatened after the first quarter.
Still, the Spartans had to play without Redberg again for most of the game as she was saddled with foul trouble almost from the start.
No worries, however, as the Spartans cranked up the defense and again showed depth on offense with three players in double figures and another with eight as they opened the season with a convincing 64-33 pounding of 6A West Salem at Spartan Gym..
"I think that it shows a lot that we can pick our teammate up if someone gets hurt or fouls out, like Z sitting." Johnson said. "We're not dependent on one person, we're dependent on each other so we can all work as a team and pick up one another."
Coach Joe Williamson said the experience of playing without Redberg in the state tournament showed how deep the Spartans are, and how the other players can step up and make an impact.
"Our girls, (they) all know (they) have to be ready to step up and kind of pick up whatever someone else isn't doing, pick up that weight," he said. "Even if someone were to get hurt like Z did (in the tournament) or is having an off half, we know we have the depth to fill in for those girls."
Right from the start Thursday it was Katie Schrock, a junior who has moved into the starting lineup this season, setting the tone for the Spartans. Schrock canned a 3-pointer form the baseline for an early 3-0 lead. She banged home another three from nearly the same spot for a 9-2 lead, and added her third three for a 14-4 lead with just under three minutes to play in the first quarter.
West Salem never got closer.
"Katie is going to have most nights a night like that," Williamson said. "She's a very good shooter, very good offensive player and a better defender this year. What you saw out of Katie, we anticipate that will be a nightly thing."
If it is a nightly performance, the Spartans will be hard to defend. Schrock finished with 13 points, as did Johnson. Alaina Adams added 10 and Kayla Laney had eight.
Laney gave the Spartans a spark with her rebounding prowess and earned the honor of being the firts player to receive Beatriz the Bear, a stuffed bear that is given out to a player of the game (I think, better check on the specifics and I'll get back to you).
The Spartans had a 33-12 lead at the half and kept up the intensity. Karly Laney, who finished with six points, gave the Spartans a 43-15 advantage, the largest of the game until the closing minute, with 4:17 left in the quarter.
"We will rely on our defense and our speed and quickness," Williamson said. "That's why it's nice when girls don't have a good quarter or a good half, that if you play good defense it not only takes points away from the other team on the scoreboard, but it also kind of leads to our points and doesn't have to be one of our scorers getting a breakaway layup or a 15-footer."
Johnson did say that the Spartans need to do a better job of using that quickness on offense.
"I think we need to work on, even though I know we can do it, is just getting back into the whole running the ball," she said. "Like Joe said, we are a fast team and we need to take advantage of that."
West Salem did show some signs of life earlier in the fourth quarter and cut its deficit to 22, but the Spartans answered and closed out strong to earn the win.
"West got a little aggressive," Williamson said. "It seemed like they got a little upset (and looked) at the scoreboard and decided they were going to play us a little aggressive."
Williamson called a timeout and challenged the girls to finish the game strong -- and they did.
If there was any concern, it could be over the new rules that seem to have the officials calling the game closer than last year. Redberg was the only player to be in serious foul trouble early, but several players finished with three or four fouls.
Williamson isn't too concerned.
"It was the first game, you kind of get some of those wrinkles out and (are) trying to get comfortable again with how the refs are going to call it," he explained.. "I actually thought all of our girls did a good job of moving their feet and not reaching. I do not take anything away from what they did tonight. I wouldn't want them to play any different. The fouls they got were, to me, aggressive fouls. I dont think they were being lazy and reaching. We'll take those fouls."
With the first game over, the Spartans can get back to practice and work on improving.
"I'm really glad that we played good the first game so we have momentum for practice and our next game," Johnson said. "Now we kind of know in a real game what we all can do, even though we did, but this was our first real test and I'm really proud and glad that our team did well today."
It will be a big week next week for the Spartans as they head to Wilsonville on Tuesday to face a team that was in the state tournament last year. Then they face Willamette, ranked No. 2 in the coaches poll, just ahead of the Spartans, at the Sherwood tournament on Friday.
"I think next week is going to prove and show a lot in our team and how together we are," Johnson said. "I think that's going to be a big test for us."
Corvallis 64, West Salem 33
WEST SALEM 5 7 11 10 -- 33
CORVALLIS 18 15 16 15 -- 64
West Salem: Kaila Britten 9, Kumm 4, Moye 4, Velez 3, Beyer 3, Nevell 3, Hedrick 2, Watson 2, Coba 2, Stombaugh 1
Corvallis: Katie Schrock 13, Gabe Johnson 3, Adams 10, Kay. Laney 8, Kar, Laney 6, M. redberg 5, Gerner 4, W. Redberg 3, Clark 2, Hendrickson, McGowan
The Corvallis High girls basketball team was no stranger to facing adversity last season. The Spartans played through the loss of point guard Gabe Johnson after she was ejected from a game at a tournament at Lake Oswego over the Christmas break; senior Eva Oriakhi was lost for the season with a knee injury early into the Mid-Willamette Conference season; and first-team all-conference standout McKenzie Redberg suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of the 5A state tournament opener against Hermiston and was done for the year.
The Spartans battled back from a big defict against Aloha in the Lake Oswego tournament without Johnson only to come up two points short. They had other players step up in the post to make up for the loss of Oriakhi down low and finished tied for the MWC title. And they won their final two games of the season without Redberg to take home fourth place at the state tournament.
So with a deep and experienced team returning for the 2008-09 season and expectations at an all-time high for the program, it probably shouldn't have come as any surprise that the Spartans would face a little bit of adversity in their season-opener on Thursday night.
And they did to some degree, althought they didn't lose any player to injury and were never seriously threatened after the first quarter.
Still, the Spartans had to play without Redberg again for most of the game as she was saddled with foul trouble almost from the start.
No worries, however, as the Spartans cranked up the defense and again showed depth on offense with three players in double figures and another with eight as they opened the season with a convincing 64-33 pounding of 6A West Salem at Spartan Gym..
"I think that it shows a lot that we can pick our teammate up if someone gets hurt or fouls out, like Z sitting." Johnson said. "We're not dependent on one person, we're dependent on each other so we can all work as a team and pick up one another."
Coach Joe Williamson said the experience of playing without Redberg in the state tournament showed how deep the Spartans are, and how the other players can step up and make an impact.
"Our girls, (they) all know (they) have to be ready to step up and kind of pick up whatever someone else isn't doing, pick up that weight," he said. "Even if someone were to get hurt like Z did (in the tournament) or is having an off half, we know we have the depth to fill in for those girls."
Right from the start Thursday it was Katie Schrock, a junior who has moved into the starting lineup this season, setting the tone for the Spartans. Schrock canned a 3-pointer form the baseline for an early 3-0 lead. She banged home another three from nearly the same spot for a 9-2 lead, and added her third three for a 14-4 lead with just under three minutes to play in the first quarter.
West Salem never got closer.
"Katie is going to have most nights a night like that," Williamson said. "She's a very good shooter, very good offensive player and a better defender this year. What you saw out of Katie, we anticipate that will be a nightly thing."
If it is a nightly performance, the Spartans will be hard to defend. Schrock finished with 13 points, as did Johnson. Alaina Adams added 10 and Kayla Laney had eight.
Laney gave the Spartans a spark with her rebounding prowess and earned the honor of being the firts player to receive Beatriz the Bear, a stuffed bear that is given out to a player of the game (I think, better check on the specifics and I'll get back to you).
The Spartans had a 33-12 lead at the half and kept up the intensity. Karly Laney, who finished with six points, gave the Spartans a 43-15 advantage, the largest of the game until the closing minute, with 4:17 left in the quarter.
"We will rely on our defense and our speed and quickness," Williamson said. "That's why it's nice when girls don't have a good quarter or a good half, that if you play good defense it not only takes points away from the other team on the scoreboard, but it also kind of leads to our points and doesn't have to be one of our scorers getting a breakaway layup or a 15-footer."
Johnson did say that the Spartans need to do a better job of using that quickness on offense.
"I think we need to work on, even though I know we can do it, is just getting back into the whole running the ball," she said. "Like Joe said, we are a fast team and we need to take advantage of that."
West Salem did show some signs of life earlier in the fourth quarter and cut its deficit to 22, but the Spartans answered and closed out strong to earn the win.
"West got a little aggressive," Williamson said. "It seemed like they got a little upset (and looked) at the scoreboard and decided they were going to play us a little aggressive."
Williamson called a timeout and challenged the girls to finish the game strong -- and they did.
If there was any concern, it could be over the new rules that seem to have the officials calling the game closer than last year. Redberg was the only player to be in serious foul trouble early, but several players finished with three or four fouls.
Williamson isn't too concerned.
"It was the first game, you kind of get some of those wrinkles out and (are) trying to get comfortable again with how the refs are going to call it," he explained.. "I actually thought all of our girls did a good job of moving their feet and not reaching. I do not take anything away from what they did tonight. I wouldn't want them to play any different. The fouls they got were, to me, aggressive fouls. I dont think they were being lazy and reaching. We'll take those fouls."
With the first game over, the Spartans can get back to practice and work on improving.
"I'm really glad that we played good the first game so we have momentum for practice and our next game," Johnson said. "Now we kind of know in a real game what we all can do, even though we did, but this was our first real test and I'm really proud and glad that our team did well today."
It will be a big week next week for the Spartans as they head to Wilsonville on Tuesday to face a team that was in the state tournament last year. Then they face Willamette, ranked No. 2 in the coaches poll, just ahead of the Spartans, at the Sherwood tournament on Friday.
"I think next week is going to prove and show a lot in our team and how together we are," Johnson said. "I think that's going to be a big test for us."
Corvallis 64, West Salem 33
WEST SALEM 5 7 11 10 -- 33
CORVALLIS 18 15 16 15 -- 64
West Salem: Kaila Britten 9, Kumm 4, Moye 4, Velez 3, Beyer 3, Nevell 3, Hedrick 2, Watson 2, Coba 2, Stombaugh 1
Corvallis: Katie Schrock 13, Gabe Johnson 3, Adams 10, Kay. Laney 8, Kar, Laney 6, M. redberg 5, Gerner 4, W. Redberg 3, Clark 2, Hendrickson, McGowan
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
A thrilling finish at the jamboree
For a second or two on Monday night I thought back to Magic Johnson’s rookie year.
Magic’s teammate, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, had just scored with his patented hook shot to win a game early in the season and Magic showed his exuberance by mobbing Abdul-Jabbar with a hug.
Abdul-Jabbar later said something to the effect that Magic needed to calm down because it was just one game.
It may have only been an early-season game, but the passion and excitement that Magic played with is part of what made him such a good basketball player.
So when Kayla Laney’s excitement was evident when she hugged Katie Schrock at the end of the postgame handshake line after Schrock buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Corvallis High girls basketball team to a 23-20 win over Sheldon in a jamboree, I thought back to the moment some 28 or so years ago.
Sure the game didn’t count in the standings, but it was still an exciting time for Laney and her teammates.
And it was good to see them celebrate a little, something that took some time to happen last year for a team not used to success.
All-in-all it was a solid night for the Spartans, who open the season for real on Thursday with a home game against 6A opponent West Salem. The Titans played at Crescent Valley on Tuesday night.
“It was really nice to get my jitters out and finally go out on the court with confidence that we are one of the best teams in the state and that we can execute those little plays,” Laney said. “Especially last year, we had a hard time executing those last-minute plays and to do that was really awesome.”
The Spartans played two 12-minute quarters against two teams on Monday.
Coach Joe Williamson was glad the Spartans had a chance to play in the jamboree because of the nerves that always come with first games.
“I think what I like about the jamboree is we get the girls a chance to get out and get the butterflies out which we had a lot of the first game,” he said. “We missed a lot of layins, a lot of open shots. So I like that chance to get it in a non-counting game.”
Despite the tough start, the Spartans still managed a 26-11 victory over Cottage Grove, which is ranked No. 2 in the state at 4A.
Then came a thriller against Sheldon, ranked eighth in the 6A poll.
The Spartans trailed early, then took a 12-11 lead on Gabe Johnson’s 3-pointer.
A free throw by Syree Gerner and Whitney Redberg’s three from the top of the key gave CHS a 16-11 lead.
Laney then followed a missed shot with a rebound bucket and Johnson’s driving bucket made it 20-12 with 4:10 left.
But after doing a good job on the boards early, the Spartans gave up a few offensive rebounds and Sheldon cut into the lead.
Sheldon went to the line with 18 seconds left but missed both free throws. However, the Irish were able to get the rebound and score to tie the game with 12.7 seconds left.
The Spartans called time out to set up the final play.
Schrock, who was on the bench, entered the game and inbounded the ball to Johnson, who gave it right back to her. Schrock’s long-range 3 was perfect and the Spartans celebrated.
“We were up eight points and they make a run and we withstand that and execute a play at the end to win. We actually learned a lot from that game,” Williamson said.
The players noticed a difference between the first game and the second — especially when it came to fouling or being called for fouling. The Spartans were whistled for more than 10 fouls in the first game, but only a couple the second.
“I think we just got into the flow of the game and we got the rhythm of it and started playing as a team and realized that we can’t play sloppy like that,” Laney said.
Added McKenzie Redberg: “I think we just moved our feet better and actually sat down (on defense). We got our nerves out and stopped being lazy.”
And it was nice to just play against someone other than the JV team.
“It was actually great because I got my nerves out and (it was nice to) just run something they don’t cheat on every time,” Redberg said of the JV team knowing all the plays.
Now it’s time to focus on a real game.
“I’m excited to play a full game and see what we can do for a full game,” Redberg said. “I’m ready to play.
Added Laney: “I’m pumped.”
Magic’s teammate, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, had just scored with his patented hook shot to win a game early in the season and Magic showed his exuberance by mobbing Abdul-Jabbar with a hug.
Abdul-Jabbar later said something to the effect that Magic needed to calm down because it was just one game.
It may have only been an early-season game, but the passion and excitement that Magic played with is part of what made him such a good basketball player.
So when Kayla Laney’s excitement was evident when she hugged Katie Schrock at the end of the postgame handshake line after Schrock buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Corvallis High girls basketball team to a 23-20 win over Sheldon in a jamboree, I thought back to the moment some 28 or so years ago.
Sure the game didn’t count in the standings, but it was still an exciting time for Laney and her teammates.
And it was good to see them celebrate a little, something that took some time to happen last year for a team not used to success.
All-in-all it was a solid night for the Spartans, who open the season for real on Thursday with a home game against 6A opponent West Salem. The Titans played at Crescent Valley on Tuesday night.
“It was really nice to get my jitters out and finally go out on the court with confidence that we are one of the best teams in the state and that we can execute those little plays,” Laney said. “Especially last year, we had a hard time executing those last-minute plays and to do that was really awesome.”
The Spartans played two 12-minute quarters against two teams on Monday.
Coach Joe Williamson was glad the Spartans had a chance to play in the jamboree because of the nerves that always come with first games.
“I think what I like about the jamboree is we get the girls a chance to get out and get the butterflies out which we had a lot of the first game,” he said. “We missed a lot of layins, a lot of open shots. So I like that chance to get it in a non-counting game.”
Despite the tough start, the Spartans still managed a 26-11 victory over Cottage Grove, which is ranked No. 2 in the state at 4A.
Then came a thriller against Sheldon, ranked eighth in the 6A poll.
The Spartans trailed early, then took a 12-11 lead on Gabe Johnson’s 3-pointer.
A free throw by Syree Gerner and Whitney Redberg’s three from the top of the key gave CHS a 16-11 lead.
Laney then followed a missed shot with a rebound bucket and Johnson’s driving bucket made it 20-12 with 4:10 left.
But after doing a good job on the boards early, the Spartans gave up a few offensive rebounds and Sheldon cut into the lead.
Sheldon went to the line with 18 seconds left but missed both free throws. However, the Irish were able to get the rebound and score to tie the game with 12.7 seconds left.
The Spartans called time out to set up the final play.
Schrock, who was on the bench, entered the game and inbounded the ball to Johnson, who gave it right back to her. Schrock’s long-range 3 was perfect and the Spartans celebrated.
“We were up eight points and they make a run and we withstand that and execute a play at the end to win. We actually learned a lot from that game,” Williamson said.
The players noticed a difference between the first game and the second — especially when it came to fouling or being called for fouling. The Spartans were whistled for more than 10 fouls in the first game, but only a couple the second.
“I think we just got into the flow of the game and we got the rhythm of it and started playing as a team and realized that we can’t play sloppy like that,” Laney said.
Added McKenzie Redberg: “I think we just moved our feet better and actually sat down (on defense). We got our nerves out and stopped being lazy.”
And it was nice to just play against someone other than the JV team.
“It was actually great because I got my nerves out and (it was nice to) just run something they don’t cheat on every time,” Redberg said of the JV team knowing all the plays.
Now it’s time to focus on a real game.
“I’m excited to play a full game and see what we can do for a full game,” Redberg said. “I’m ready to play.
Added Laney: “I’m pumped.”
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