By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
WILLAMINA, Ore.– The Willamina Girls Basketball team showed flashes of what they’re capable of four games into the young season and on the back-end of a back-to-back as they hosted Warrenton on Friday night.
After trailing 8-3 going into the second quarter and trailing as much as 14-7 in that second stanza, they clawed back into the game. By the 4:38 mark they were trailing 14-12 to the Warriors and just kept Warrenton within reach going into the second half trailing 21-17.
“They had a quick turnaround, we had a game last night, a tough game against Astoria. We’re just burning out our legs, but that just comes with us getting into better shape, better conditioning,” said first year Head Coach Hallee Wright. “The last three games have definitely been really tough teams, but I think that’s making us better…getting us in shape for league.”
A lull out of the halftime break allowed Warrenton to build some momentum in teh second half, they were able to build a 45-33 lead with 5:33 remaining in the game before the Bulldogs closed out the 48-42 defeat on a 9-3 run
With a relatively young squad, with three freshmen and a sophomore, on the Varsity roster this season, that’ll come as they’ll get the experience points out Wright.
“I think the issue was our consistency. But that comes with our youth. When we came out the last four minutes of the fourth quarter, it was amazing. I think we have to capitalize on those moments and strengthen those weaknesses that we have on the front court and the back court,” said Wright. “Making it consistent throughout the whole 32 minutes of the game, it’s going to make us better.”
Grace Terbush led Willamina with 24 points, Bridgette Manley scored another nine points in the game. The Bulldogs will open PacWest Conference play on December 16 when they host Santiam Christian.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
