Hawk girls divide set of WCC road games

January 29, 2017

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wg gbb jamison drive l-r — Woodward-Granger's Riley Jamison takes the ball to the baseline against the defense of Ogden's Kim Christensen Tuesday.

MADRID — Woodward-Granger was dialed in from long distance Friday, sinking eight 3-pointers en route to a 61-44 West Central Conference win at Madrid. The victory followed a tough 59-55 setback to the West Central Valley girls Thursday, a WCC game in which W-G nearly erased a 17-point second-half deficit.

Kendra Husmann had six points and Mary Hanson five in the first quarter of Friday’s game to spark W-G (6-12, 4-9) in the early stages, as the guests opened an 18-11 edge. The Hawks entered the intermission with a 30-22 advantage, then blew the game open in the third quarter.

Riley Jamison sank two 3-pointers and the Hawks hit 6-of-10 free throws in the second quarter, with Jamison burying three triples, Husmann one and Kayley Dresback one as the Hawks outscored the Tigers, 22-9, to create a 52-31 gap on the scoreboard.

The Tigers (6-11, 3-10) had flustered the Hawks with an aggressive 2-3 zone in a 37-35 win Dec. 16. W-G prepared new looks for the Madrid zone, only to find themselves faced — at least initially — with a man-to-man defense, which the Hawks quickly shredded. The outside shooting helped negate the zone defense when it was switched to, allowing the guests to notch the win.

“Our defense stymied them much of the night,” W-G head coach Gary Dresback said. “We played man, but executed our game plan well. We only had three or four breakdowns defensively all game where we made something easy for them, and we can afford a few of those if they are spread out over the entire game like they were in this one.”

Dresback praised the effort of his team, especially in rebounding, and said the energy level was as good as he had seen it this season.

“This was definitely our best effort for four quarters,” he said. “I am very proud of the girls’ efforts these last couple of games. They played well together and played hard, with heart and grit like we need to be as successful as possible.”

Jamison led W-G with 16 points after sinking all five of her 3-point attempts. Husmann added 12 points, Maggi Mallon 10, Hanson nine (including a trey in the fourth quarter), Dresback eight, Kaitlyn Peters four and Riley Kirton two points.

Thursday’s Game
WCV 59, W-G 55

STUART — WCV held a 13-12 lead after one period before using what W-G coach Dresback called “three defensive breakdowns” in a short span in the second quarter allowed the hosts to pull away for a 33-23 halftime lead.

W-G found themselves trailing by as much as 40-23 in the second half before slowly and steadily chipping away at their deficit. The Hawks came as close as three points but could not manage the final spurt and fell by the four-point margin.

“Had we shot better than 16-of-38 from the free throw line we’d have made it all the way back and then some and won this game,” coach Dresback said.

Hanson had 17 points and Kayley Dresback and Alyssa Bice eight apiece for the Hawks. Husmann added seven points, Mallon six, Jamison five and Peters four.

W-G hosts No. 8 Panorama Tuesday before visiting Earlham Friday.