By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
ST. PAUL, Ore.– Something just clicked for the St. Paul Girls Basketball team in the second half.
The fear that they had in the first half turned into determination in the second. Their defense, something that they changed going into the second half, worked in their favor starting in the third quarter. And it led into their offense.
The Buckaroos led 20-17, but by the end of the third frame they led C.S Lewis Academy
They led 20-17 to start the third quarter, and by the end they led 38-22. An 18-5 third quarter to swing momentum into their favor. They had all the confidence in the world as they entered the final eight minutes of the game at St. Paul High School.
“We changed our defense up in the second quarter and we went back to the one that was working for us. We just kind of clicked with our team. We were getting steals, shifting with the defense and hyping each other up on the court, whether it was good or bad. We were going for every ball and not letting every ball go,” said Sienna Meza, who scored ten of her 19 points in the third quarter on Thursday. “In that last half, I felt like we kinda clicked like, ‘oh we want this’.”
“I think the difference between the first half and the second half was that we calmed down. We played within our speed and under control. Defensively, we just came together and everybody knew their roles. They worked hard and had some help from the bench on defense as well. Team effort,” adds St. Paul Head Coach Julie Melcher.
The Watchmen cut the deficit to ten, 45-35, with 3:35 left in the game. It was a challenge to the Bucks to close out the game as C.S. Lewis’ offense looked as if they were finding some mojo once again in their offense like during the second quarter.
But unlike the second quarter, St. Paul was ready for it as they kept the Watchmen at bay for the 52-39 victory. The win locked up a 1A State Playoff berth for the Bucks, all the while sending them to the Casco League Championship Game against Perrydale on Saturday at Woodburn High School.
“We just got to play our game. The last two games we played them, we missed 19 free throws so just play our ball-game, play under control and not let any outside noise get to us and just stay focus on our team and what we’re trying to do,” said Melcher. “It’s all about our energy, our positive energy. I tell the girls all the time, ‘when we’re relaxed and having fun, playing together. That’s when we’re at our best’.”
Brooklym Boyd contributed nine points and Emery Williams contributed another eight in the victory. C.S. Lewis, who will play Chemawa on Saturday for thrid-place and the final Automatic Qualifier from the Casco League, were led by Madison Hurst’s 15 points.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
