Varsity Lady Trojans vs. Liberty Bell 1-13-09

Trojan Basketball Reporting

By Heidi Neal and Nancy Miller

MANSON 34 @ LIBERTY BELL 61
01/13/09

This game was a real humbling experience for the Lady Trojans, they realized how far we have come, but also how far we have to go to reach our goals for this season.

Even though we didn't win and the really never was all that close, we did have many positives throughout the game. As a team we had 9 assists which is more than we have had in any single game yet this year. We got better as the game went along; the girls never gave up and worked hard all game long no matter what the score was. The girls learned from their mistakes and began to fix many of those mistakes after halftime. The adjustments we made at halftime were used by the girls to perfection at times during the second half. Our girls did a much better job defending the post, using what they learned in practice to their advantage. Because of the post defense the Liberty Bell size really didn't hurt us inside.

Yessenia Escoto came into the game with fire in her eyes and without blinking an eye she hit too outside shots. Verna LaCourse had her best game of the year playing tough defense inside and contributing 6 points. Hailey Ellsworth had a great post move that she learned in practice, it is always great to see the girls use what they learn in practice in an actual game. Whitni England chipped in with 6 points while doing the majority of the ball handling against Liberty Bells' full court press. Vetta Maynard had a hard time getting shots off against much bigger defenders, but she was still able to hit one three-pointer. Abby Bridgewater worked hard on defense and got 2 defensive rebounds because of it. Veronica Vanderholm led us in scoring with 8 points. Angelica Suarez played 2 quarters of great defense mostly on the best player that Liberty Bell has. Eva Escoto also did a good job defensively against much taller players. Mindy Neal did as she always does, and that is hustle. Mindy came with a great attitude and tried her best late in the game at both ends of the floor. Marci Nelson had a hard time getting into the game because she got 2 very quick fouls, one of them I am not so sure about, while she was in the game though she guarded Shelby Scott (the girl that will probably be the league MVP) and did a pretty good job.

This particular game was different than others that we didn't win because turnovers really cost us as we had a total of 31; it wasn't just one or two girls though the turnovers were spread out fairly evenly between the girls.

The things that didn't go well for us tonight are all fixable things. All of the girls are ready for the challenge of getting after it and playing to the best of their ability against Oroville on Friday, January 16^th at home. Tip off is at 6:00 p.m.

SCORING BY QUARTER
MANSON             06  11  07   10
LIBERTY BELL    17  17  08   19

VETTA MAYNARD: 5 points, 2 assists, 2 steals,  2-9 shooting, 1 3-pointer
MARCI NELSON: 1 point, 3 rebounds, 0-1 shooting, 1-2 free throw
WHITNI ENGLAND: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals, 3-10 shooting
VERNA LACOURSE: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 2-4 shooting,2-2 free throw
ABBY BRIDGEWATER: 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
VERONICA VANDERHOLM: 8 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4-7 sooting, 0-2 free throw
HAILEY ELLSWORTH: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2-5 shooting, 0-2 free throw
ANGELICA SUAREZ: 1 rebound, 1 steal
EVA ESCOTO: 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0-1 shooting
YESSENIA ESCOTO: 4 points, 2-3 shooting
MINDY NEAL: