By Rob Potter
ELDRED — December 18, 2007 — The Tri-Valley Lady Bears took control early in Friday night’s basketball game versus the host Eldred Lady Yellowjackets.
In the opening minutes, T-V used a full-court press defense to cause several turnovers and steals. Many times the Eldred turnover or steal by one of the Lady Bears led directly to a basket for T-V.
T-V (2-1) gradually added to its advantage as the non-league contest progressed to post a 70-34 victory.
The Lady Bears went on a 16-0 run in the first five minutes of the opening quarter.
A two-minute sequence in the middle of the period summarized the opening half. With 5:35 on the clock, T-V’s Kelly McNamara scored inside seconds after a teammate stole the ball to give her team a 10-0 lead.
At the 4:10 mark, T-V’s Kaylie Ackerley stole the ball near midcourt and then quickly scored a basket.
With 3:31 left in the quarter, Jakki Pugh made a steal and then converted a layup to give the Lady Bears a 14-0 lead.
Meaghan Hazen swished a 15-foot jump shot at 2:54 to finally put Eldred (0-3) on the scoreboard.
T-V enjoyed an 18-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 32-17 advantage at halftime.
By the start of the fourth period, the Lady Bears had extended their lead to 46-22.
Four players scored in double figures to pace the T-V offense.
Kathryn Schneyer led the way with a game-high 14 points. Anneliese Hartman had 13 points, while Pugh netted 12 points.
McNamara nearly recorded a double-double as she scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds. She also had seven steals and two assists.
Also contributing for the Lady Bears were Katelyn Exner and Skylar Musa. Exner registered eight points, while Musa made seven steals and dished out five assists.
“We don’t have a very tall team,” T-V Coach Karen Andrews said. “Kaylie Ackerley started at center for us tonight and she’s 5-foot-6. Because of our lack of size, we need to take advantage of our speed.”
Andrews noted that her team’s defensive style is also a result of not having a great deal of size.
“Without tall inside players, we can’t play a zone defense against teams – we need to use the press,” she said. “We got a lot of points tonight from our press.”
Andrews is very pleased with the Lady Bears’ performance in their three games this season.
“We have a very good group of girls,” she said. “They get along very well with each other.”
Senior center Gabby Westfall led the Lady Yellowjackets’ offense with 10 points, while Hazen added nine points.
Eldred Coach Frank Kean noted that Westfall is one of his team’s key players.
“We rely on her a lot,” he said.
Westfall and Megan Kean – Coach Kean’s daughter – are the only two seniors on the Lady Yellowjackets’ roster.
“We have a young team,” Frank Kean said. “My girls are still learning how to deal with the press.
“The key for us this season is to improve every game,” he added.