With the basketball season winding down, the Bruin girls varsity basketball team hosted the 2-8 St. Mary’s Lady Crusaders Wednesday evening with the Bruin girls looking to finish the season strong with hopes to win out and keep post-season chances alive.
As has been the case through out the year, the Bruin girls came out slow, struggling to find their game early as the Lady Crusaders ran on the Bruin girls getting to the basket and jumping out to a 0-5 lead to start the first quarter. But after the Bruin girls worked into the game, they closed the gap, slowing down the St. Mary’s offense as the put 7 points on the board to trail 7-10 after the first period.
But in the second period the Lady Crusaders continued to keep the pressure on the Bruin girls, scoring five more points to start the second period as the Bruin girls matched the St. Mary’s offensive output with five points themselves. As the period wore on, the Lady Crusaders extended their lead with a late 3 pointer to take a six point lead into the locker room at the half, leading 16-22.
To start the second half, the Bruin girls defense pressured the Lady Crusaders on the inbound and change of possession to slow the St. Mary’s offense and allowing only three Lady Crusader points in the first half of the third period. But the Bruin girls continued to struggle around the basket, scoring only 7 points in the period, trailing 23-31 to end the third.
In the final period, trailing by eight, the Bruin girls put together their best period of play, allowing only two St. Mary’s shooters to score in the period as the Bruin girls sent the Lady Crusaders to the line to earn their points in the fourth. The Lady Crusaders would go 1 for 6 from the line, opening the door for the Bruin girls late.
Five Bruin girls scored in the fourth period with the Bruin girls Jaiden Babb hitting a late 3 pointer to tie the score at 38-38 with under a minute left in the final period. St. Mary’s missed crucial free throws in the final seconds, and the Bruin girls then forced a turn over at mid court with just seconds left, the inbound found its way to Amelia Bruce who broke to the basket hitting the pressure lay up as time ran out to give the Bruin girls the much needed 40-38 win,
The Bruin girls will see play again on Monday, hosting the 8-3 Coquille Lady Red Devils Monday evening at 5:30pm to close out regular season play.
