By Rob Potter
ELDRED — December 23, 2003 – Normally when a basketball team’s starting point guard is sitting on the bench for a majority of the game instead of directing the team’s offense, it does not bode well for that squad.
Tri-Valley found itself in that very situation on Friday night in a non-league girls’ basketball game versus host Eldred. In the first three minutes of the game, Lady Bear point guard Nikki Dean picked up three personal fouls. She then watched the rest of the first half from the bench.
In the second half, Dean was called for her fourth foul within the first two minutes of the third period and returned to the bench.
But the Lady Bears adjusted very well and earned their first victory of the season by a final score of 65-56.
Balanced scoring and a third quarter offensive outburst were the keys to victory for T-V (1-3). After the teams went to the locker room tied at 30, the Lady Bears outscored the Lady Yellowjackets 24-12 in the third quarter.
“When Nikki went out, we moved Heather Bachmann to the point guard position and she did a great job,” T-V Coach Karen Furman said. “Jamie Poulos and Lacey Moore did a nice job of rebounding. They also passed the ball well, people were cutting to the basket and they made some great passes.”
Furman also praised senior guard Amanda Krom, who finished the contest with a team-high 17 points.
“Amanda had some nice outside shots,” Furman said. “This is the first game this season she has been able to get her shot going.”
Shauna Murry scored 14 points for the Lady Bears. Poulos had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Moore finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds.
“It was a good first half for both teams,” Eldred Coach Frank Kean said. “But they came out hot in that third quarter. It seemed like they made about 90 percent of their shots.”
Kean noted that Eldred (0-3) had some chances to comeback in the fourth quarter, however.
“We were able to get some shots from close in, but the ball just would not fall through the hoop,” he said.
Lady Yellowjacket senior guard Lauren Timan scored a game-high 28 points. Half of those points came at the free-throw line as Timan made 14 of the 18 foul shots she attempted.
Junior forward Jessica Cherry added 19 points for Eldred.
While the Lady Yellowjackets are still looking for their first victory of the young season, Kean is confident the team will soon record that “W.”
“We’re playing up against bigger teams and we’re playing them close,” he commented. “The girls are working very hard.”