Sports
Lady Tigers drop first game, bounce back against Bryan
Monday, 19 November 2012 by Tony Adams
The Lady Tigers defend the goal against Bryan on Tuesday night. BHS won the game 58-55.When the Belton Lady Tigers stepped onto the court at Belton High School Tuesday night, they were on a mission to erase Friday night's loss to Round Rock Cedar Ridge from their memory bank.
Mission accomplished.
A solid defensive effort anchored the Lady Tigers to a 58-55 win over the Bryan Lady Vikings.
"They learned to play tonight with some heart and aggressiveness," coach Brenda Gomez said. "We stepped up and played solid defense against a very physical team. Bryan stayed parked in the paint quite a bit.
"To shoot 45 times and to shoot 50 percent is a big difference from the game before."
McKinzie Robinson got Belton on the board early with four of the Lady Tigers' first six points, including an outstanding assist from Olivia Warehime.
"McKinzie played great tonight and Warehime saw productive minutes," Gomez said.
Bryan and Belton would go back and forth until the 3:05 mark of the first stanza before Warehime's five points was sandwiched around a jumper by Kinsey Williams and a layup by Brittany Harris to give Belton an 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Bryan's scoreless drought would last nearly seven minutes before the Lady Vikings' Alysia Hall would hit a basket to launch the Lady Tigers into their own four-minute drought to draw Bryan to within seven, trailing 29-22 at the half.
Belton's field goal drought would last another four minutes into the third quarter, as Alex Sims and Alondriah Brown would chip away at the Lady Tiger lead and would tie the game at 30 . Kenedy Fowler would end the drought at the 4:23 mark of the third quarter, sparking a 6-0 run, and the quarter would end with the Lady Tigers on top 42-37.
Belton's defense was put to the test in the fourth quarter by the hard-charging Lady Vikings offense, spearheaded by Sims and Brown.
"Sims would go straight to the hole," Gomez said. "Finally, Blair (Gilbert) was able to keep her up high and away from the paint."
The Lady Tigers dug their heels in and turned away a last-second rally to give Belton a well-deserved, first victory of the season.
"They learned to play tonight with some heart and played aggressive," Gomez said.
The Lady Tigers travel to Round Rock McNeil today for a round robin tournament in which they play Crowley (11 a.m.), McNeil (2:30 p.m.) and Elgin (Friday at 8:30 a.m.). Following the Elgin game on Friday, the Lady Tigers will be bracketed and will continue on in a single elimination format.
BHS Girls drop first game
It's important to understand the progression of the Belton Girls Basketball Team and each game within the season being important coaching moments.
Though a 33-22 defeat to Round Rock Cedar Ridge on Friday would not give the appearance of progression, to see the progress on the hardwood at Tiger Gym would state otherwise.
Cedar Ridge controlled the ball much of the game, but more in a passive sense. There were lengthy periods of time where the Lady Raider offense would hold the play up in the offensive zone for close to 12 minutes.
"We could not stay with them in a man-to-man situation," Gomez said. "We went into the man-to-man defense and were giving up back door layups. I explained to the girls the reason that the opposition went into this mode. They understood this after the game."
Kryshona Carter helped Cedar Ridge jump out to a quick 12-0 lead four minutes into the game, with a eight-point spurt. Brittany Harris would break the drought for the Lady Tigers with 2:09 to go in the first quarter. Belton's defense would go into lock down mode and an only allow six points the remainder of the first half. The Lady Raiders would hold the ball the last four minutes in their offensive end and could not convert the half ending shot, as the Lady Tigers would go into the locker room down 18-7.
Briana Ragland would lead Belton with nine points, knocking down the first shot of the third quarter and Harris would convert a 3-point play with 4:55 remaining in the third quarter to bring the Lady Tigers within eight points at 20-12.
Shortly after Harris' 3-point conversion, a scary collision occurred with Carter and Lady Raider teammate Makyndra Simmons colliding in a chase for a loose ball. Shortly after the collision, Cedar Ridge would go back into the offensive zone and held the ball the final two minutes of the quarter. Belton would outscore Cedar Ridge 11-10 for the quarter, but trailed 28-18.
Although Belton would hold the Lady Raiders to only five points in the fourth quarter, the Lady Tigers were not able to take advantage. Cedar Ridge would twice more go into offensive zone ball control mode for a total of 3:30.
Carter would finish with 12 points for the Lady Raiders. Harris led Belton (0-2) with nine points.
