Lady Trojans upend West Greene, 51-37
Darnell Graham
The Lady Trojans鈥� Dominique Gaston (22) maintains control of the basketball as she dribbles through West Greene鈥檚 Madison Lampe (21) and Marissa Rode (11) during Tuesday鈥檚 non-section game at California High School.
Darnell Graham
California鈥檚 Kylie Trusler (14) and West Greene鈥檚 Bri Goodwin (23) battle for control of the ball under the hoop during Tuesday鈥檚 non-section game at California Area High School. Darnell Graham
Darnell Graham
West Greene鈥檚 Madison Lampe (21) finds an opening around the Lady Trojans鈥� Love鈥� Porter (4) during non-section action at California High School.
CALIFORNIA 鈥� California downed West Greene in a non-section girls basketball game Tuesday where both team鈥檚 strengths were challenged.
The game pitted West Greene鈥檚 patented full-court press, while California is known offensively for its ball handling. Thanks in part to Jenna Miller鈥檚 ball-handling skills and California鈥檚 stingy defense, the hosts pulled away for a 51-37 win.
鈥淒efense was the key,鈥� said California coach Chris Minerd, who reached his 100th career win as a head coach. 鈥淭hey average 65 points a game and I am very happy with our defense tonight.鈥�
Prior to this game, West Greene had not scored less than 50 points in a game this season.
鈥淥ur press gives teams fits, but it didn鈥檛 today,鈥� said West Greene coach Jordan Watson. 鈥淲e have to score to set up the press, but we didn鈥檛 score like we usually do and give Cal credit for making us shoot bad shots.鈥�
West Greene鈥檚 full-court press bothered California early as the Lady Trojans (12-1) turned it over on their first possession, but they stepped up the defense and limited West Greene鈥檚 press chances by holding it to a pair of baskets in the first quarter and one in the third.
鈥淲e helped our press break by playing solid defense,鈥� Minerd said. 鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 set it up if they weren鈥檛 scoring and our girls played solid defense.鈥�
West Greene (9-2) scored on two of its first three possessions, but did not make another basket until McKenna Lampe鈥檚 steal and layup with 7:07 left in the first half.
That ended a 13-0 California run that carried over from the first quarter.
West Greene went on a 5-0 run late in the first half, but California held a 24-18 lead heading into the third quarter.
California opened the second half on an 8-2 run to take control of the game with a 32-20 lead, and it extended its lead to 37-23 after the third quarter.
The outcome was never in doubt in the fourth quarter. For the game, California held West Greene to 12 field goals, including two in the last minute of the game.
Bailey Vig paced California with 15 points, with Jenna Miller (11) and Dominique Gaston (10) also hitting double figures.
Miller added eight assists and six rebounds while nullifying the West Greene pressure.
鈥淪he did a great job as the floor general,鈥� Minerd said of his four-year point guard. 鈥淚 wish she would shoot more and she passed up easy shots, but she is getting better at it and played well tonight.鈥�
Watson complimented Miller, saying with a laugh, 鈥淚 am glad she is graduating. They were in our section the last three years and she is tough. Our press rattles people, but not her as she is smooth and makes things happen.鈥�
Madison Lampe led West Greene with 10 points, and Watson commented how California limited Lampe, her sister McKenna, and Kaitlyn Rizor.
鈥淭he three of them are averaging 52 points per game, combined,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut tonight they had 26. That is the difference between having one senior, no juniors, and all sophomores like we do and a veteran team like California has.鈥�
After praising his team, Minerd finally reflected on his 100th win, albeit reluctantly.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not about me, but I will enjoy this,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is something that I never imagined. I鈥檓 proud of this and thank all of the coaches and players during my time here.鈥�