If you didn’t like last nights Lady Bruins basketball game, the then you must not like big time shots, relentless defense, or double overtime. Last nights game against the 2-4 Douglas Lady Trojans had all of that and more. This is the second time these teams have met this season and the first 50-39 Lady Bruin win in the first week of January wasn’t quite the thriller we witnessed last night, but the Douglas Lady Trojans made serious adjustments and improved their fitness.
The Lady Bruins started the game ready to slide right into their usual groove, a soft press at half court and running on the opponents mistakes. However, the Lady Trojans were not here to make the Lady Bruins feel at home or let them get into their comfort zone. As the Lady Bruins quickly learned the Lady Trojans were going to use the size to push the Lady Bruins around under the basket and they were fully prepared to run with the Lady Bruins from whistle to whistle. Junior guard Sidney Alexander started the scoring with a 3 pointer early and another basket for 5 points in the quarter. Lexi Schofield and Avana Pettus each had buckets in the period as the Lady Bruins managed just 9 points to the Lady Trojans 11 points in the first.
In the second period Coach Schofield applied a full court press to slow the Lady Trojans down advancing the ball up court and getting into their offense. To some extent, it did slow them down as the Lady Bruins only allowed two Douglas players on the board who managed 10 points in the period. But the Lady Trojans did one better, only allowing one Lady Bruin in the scoring column in the second period. Sophomore forward Lexi Schofield single-handedly kept the Lady Bruins in the game as she scored all 6 Lady Bruins points in the period off of a 3 pointer and going 3 of 5 from the line. A stunned Lady Bruin team went into the half trailing 15-21.
Coming out in the third, the Lady Bruins could not afford to take their time to get into their game, and Lexi Schofield was not about to let that happen. Again she led the way 7 points in the period hitting two baskets and a 3 pointer. Senior center #44 Chloe McCrae added 4 points from the paint, and Sidney Alexander and senior Mickey Fulton #2 added a basket each. The Lady Bruins also upped the defense in the period and attempted to out run the Lady Trojans. Douglas was held to 11 points in the period as the Lady Bruins hit for 15, closing the 6 point gap to just 2 points after trailing by 6 at the half.
Into the fourth period, they took us, trailing by 2 and turning up the intensity. Again Coach Schofields Lady Bruins applied the full court press, forcing the game into overdrive as the intensity of every possession and mistake seemed to put the game on the line. Senior forward Mickey Fulton came up big on two occasions in the period by forcing two turnovers and racing to basket getting to the line 4 times. Frulton went a perfect 4 for 4 from the line under immense pressure to hit the free throws. Sophomore Lexee Murray #20 tied the game at 38 with just over 4:00 minutes left to play. From there both teams exchanged baskets and finished the fourth tied at 42-42.
In the first overtime, each team managed 6 points in the intense rough period where fouling was part of the game to keep the opponent from scoring. Chloe McCrae got to the line and hit 2 free throws, while Pettus repeatedly forced the ball inside forcing the hard fouls and hit her free throws as both teams sat a 48-48 after the first overtime period.
In the second overtime period, Mickey Fulton came up big with a late steal and basket as the Lady Bruins force Douglas to foul to stop the clock. The Lady Bruins escaped with the 52-48 win.
The Lady Bruins take their show on the road Friday night as they travel to the 4-2 Lady Bulldogs for a 6:00 pm tip-off.
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