Lady Braves basketball team rolls over Orcas and Mount Vernon Christian

Girls basketball —

 

February 2, 2022



There was no letdown for La Conner after its big mid-week girls’ hoops win at Skyline.

The Lady Braves posted a pair of 50-plus point triumphs when they returned to conference action with road dates Friday at Orcas Island and Saturday at Mount Vernon Christian.

La Conner (17-1 overall; 8-0 in league) defeated Orcas 88-29 and downed MVC 88-31, completing a stretch of four straight victories away from home in just five days.

“It was our fourth game of the week – all away games and three long road trips – but the girls came out and played with great energy,” La Conner head coach Scott Novak told the Weekly News after the win at MVC.

Dean Swanson, grandfather of La Conner senior guard Juna Swanson, who led the Lady Braves with 17 points at MVC, said the team was geared up on several levels to play well.

“They are firing on all cylinders and it’s a V-12 engine,” he said, noting that La Conner scored 350 points in the four games even though a running clock was in place about one-third the time.

Despite a prolific attack, with eight players reaching the scoring column against MVC – six in double figures – Novak and Swanson say it’s the team’s defense that ignites its success.

Novak pointed to La Conner’s 17 steals on Saturday and repeated transition scores off turnovers at Orcas.

Not that the La Conner half-court offense was too shabby, either.

The Lady Braves drained 12 of 30 three-point attempts at MVC, with Juna Swanson going five-of-nine behind the arc.

Junior post Ellie Marble stepped outside to deliver a first period trey enroute to a 16-point effort.

Josie Harper knocked down two three-pointers while tallying 15 points. She also dished off a team-best six assists.

Rachel Cram scored 13 points, meshing a trio of treys.

Ellalee Wortham scored nine of her 11 points in the fourth quarter, including a three-ball.

Sarah Cook netted 12 points without a trey, teaming up with Marble to control play in the paint and convert mid-range jumpers. Cook (7) and Marble (14) combined for 21 rebounds as well. Marble, in addition, recorded four steals.

Aubrie Sloniker and Maeve McCormick added two points apiece for the victors, who led wire-to-wire, building a commanding 24-5 margin in the opening frame.

Hannah Van Hofwegen led MVC with 12 points, half coming on three-pointers.

It was much the same story for La Conner at Orcas. The visitors jumped out to a 39-4 lead in the first period. By halftime the lead had swelled to 62-11.

Cram paced the winner with 23 points. Cook (18), Marble (15), Swanson (15), and Wortham (11) likewise scored in double figures.

Harper’s six points, landed her in the scoring column.

“The girls came out and took care of business early,” Novak said. “They forced several turnovers and turned them into transition points. As always, they played unselfishly and created shots for each other.”

The team ventured outside league play again last night at 2A Burlington-Edison. They travel to 1A Klahowya, whom they toppled 70-29 at home on Jan. 11, for a Feb. 7 (5:30 p.m.) tipoff.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024