Bradford used four double-digit scoring quarters, while holding
St. Marys to nine points in the first half, as the Lady Owls
defeated the Lady Dutch 61-24 Wednesday in their District 9 League
clash.
Whitney Cline keyed Bradford with 18 points and 11 rebounds for
a double-double. She was also credited with five steals and four
assists, while Shelly Fuhrman added 10 tallies. Nikki Siffrinn
scored seven points, had nine assists and six steals and Katie
White and Tricia Copeland each contributed four steals.
“This was a great team win, and everyone got a chance to play,”
said Bradford coach Doug Lloyd, whose team now has a three-game win
streak. “Our hustle on defense really gave us the lead and kept
them from getting rebounds.
“St. Marys has some great shooters, and if you let them hang
around they make shots.
“Shelly Fuhrman, Tricia Copeland and Katie White did a good job
on the press, which made it tough for St. Marys,” Lloyd noted. “St.
Marys is a nice team, we just played really well tonight.”
Bradford (8-4) went up early in the game, making three baskets
in a row, two by Cline and the other by Fuhrman, to lead 6-0 less
than three minutes into the first quarter.
St. Marys’ Missy Aul fought back and got free under the basket
to put the ball up and in for the first points for the Lady Dutch
(6-5).
Bradford’s Siffrinn responded with a two-pointer from the top of
the key, which found nothing but net, and Furhman used a pass from
White to add two more points.
St. Marys answered with one of its four three-point shots, as
Lauren Pelgrin sent the ball soaring over defenders’ heads and
straight into the net.
Fuhrman added two successful foul shots and Cline caught a pass
from Siffrinn and got free under the basket for two more points,
putting Bradford ahead 14-5.
St. Marys responded with scores on a layup by Tammy Yanak and an
arcing shot from the right side by Pelgrin, to trim Bradford’s lead
to 14-9.
The Lady Owls took it from there, scoring on a layup and a foul
shot from Cline as well as back-to-back field goals by Britani
VanScoter, to pull ahead 21-9 as the buzzer sounded to end the
first quarter.
“Britani VanScoter came in and hit a couple big baskets for us,”
Lloyd noted. “She also did really well on the press.”
Bradford held St. Marys scoreless in the second quarter, while
Katie White found the basket twice and Cline, Kayla Murphey and Van
Scoter each added baskets to put Bradford up 31-9 at halftime.
Cline scooped up a pass dropped by St. Marys’ Pelgrin in the
opening minute of the third quarter, which she sent straight into
Siffrinn’s hands, giving her an opening for the field goal.
The Lady Dutch answered with a field goal from inside the key by
Mandy Stinchcomb, her only score of the evening.
The third quarter continued to go back and forth and was the
hardest fought period, as Bradford scored 12 and St. Marys finished
with 11 tallies.
The Lady Owls went on to outscore the Lady Dutch 18-4 in the
fourth quarter to cement their 61-24 victory.
“We got out of our game plan, and Bradford had a lot to do with
that,” said Bob Swanson, St. Marys coach. “They forced us to do
some things we didn’t want to do. Bradford has a nice team and
played a nice game.
“We need to take care of the ball and be more aggressive on the
boards. To be a better ball team that’s what it’s going to
take.
“This is the kind of game we need to come away from with
something learned, we need to build on these games,” Swanson added.
“All losses aren’t bad, we just have to learn from them.”
Both teams return to action on Friday, the Lady Owls traveling
to Clearfield, while St. Marys hosts cross-town rival ECC.
