In overtime after a head-to-head matchup, the girls’ varsity basketball team beat Roseville 51-47 on Dec. 18. #14 Molly McConnell led the team in scoring with 15 points and #24 Alanna Scott led the team in rebounds with seven offensive and five defensive rebounds.
The game started as the Tigers gained possession at the tip-off. The first Wildcat bucket came from Scott on a penetration layup, putting two points on the board against Roseville’s four. The two teams seemed evenly matched as the first quarter progressed in a low-scoring battle for the lead.

“We all thought it was going to be a good game because we knew Roseville was pretty good. They’re not as good as most teams but we haven’t been playing that well, so we knew it would be a good game,” McConnell said.

The Tigers pulled away with a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter with a score of 9-8.

In the second quarter, the battle went on as both teams scored points back-to-back. McConnell drove the team on with a 10-foot jumper at the top of the key to tie the score at 15. McConnell, now the starting point guard after Kristin Ladas’ knee injury, takes these shots as the center of the team’s man-to-man offense.

“We run our play Triple which centers me to go to the basket since their defense isn’t that fast,” McConnell said. “I was nervous playing the point (guard) but I just try to mentally prepare and go over the plays before in my head and just try to remember them. I try to build some confidence off of that.”

As the quarter passed, the Tigers pulled out in front with trick plays under the basket and penetrating drives in the key. The score at the end of the first half was 23-17 with the Tigers in the lead.

A Wildcat possession started the second half, but the Wildcats didn’t maintain this possession. A quarter of missed shots, fouls and faulty defending kept the Tigers in the lead at the end of the third quarter with a score of 35-30. The second quarter was a constant struggle with the team as a lack of focus and energy kicked in.

“We just need to get mentally stronger. Sometimes we slack off and it’s hard to focus. We just have to keep our cool and not get too excited,” McConnell said.

The Tigers kept the lead for most of the fourth quarter with steady scoring drives and consistency on defense. With two minutes left in the game, the score stood at 38-35 with the Tigers in what seemed to be a comfortable lead. But after a three-point play by #22 Janelle Sanchez with a minute left in the game, the Cats pulled the win within their reach of one point.

After strategic intentional fouling by the Cats, at 17 seconds remaining in the game, the Tigers were up 42-40. Two plays later, #11 Julianna Ress got fouled and made two free throws to tie the game at 42 and send the game into overtime.

After an initial Roseville basket, Scott made a quick three pointer to put the score at 45-44. The Wildcats would keep the lead after this with planned timeouts and strict play calling up until the final buzzer so as to control the game.

“We wanted to execute. We’ve been having trouble executing all season long: strictly drawing up a play and being able to do it. We always feel the need to freestyle but I feel like we took a big step tonight, especially in overtime. There were three opportunities for me to call a timeout and draw a play and they ran it right and we got points out of that,” Head Coach Andy Carter said. “I think the team understands now and they’ve bought in and trust the coaching staff. If we call a play, it’s probably going to work. If we see something and if they just trust us to do it, then it will work.”

The final point to consummate the score was a made free throw taken by McConnell to stick the score at 51-47. This score would stay as the final score for a Wildcat victory.

This win puts the team 18th in the California Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 League and makes their overall record 6-7-0. Although these are not the standings they’d hoped for, Carter is optimistic about the future for this young team.

“I think every game this year is going to be growth because we ended the game there with four sophomores and a senior,” Carter said. “They’re learning every step of the way: where to dribble, where to pick up their dribble, where to pass, how to pass. Every minute of the game is a teachable moment.”

The team’s next game is at Center on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.

by EMMA RICHIE