Before the game started everyone listened as JV basketball player Casey Borghesy, sang “The Star Spangled Banner.”
The game tip-off began and Whitney started out with the ball and made a quick layup. Woodcreek responded with three two-pointers and one free throw leaving the score with Woodcreek up 9-2. # 22 Janelle Sanchez got fouled by Woodcreek and was given two free throws. She missed one rebounded and passed to #24 Alana Scott, who made a quick layup. After a few more fouls and shots the quarter ended with Woodcreek up 16-9.
Woodcreek started the second quarter with possession, then Sanchez stole the ball and got fouled, and made both of her free throws. Several more fouls happened against both teams throughout the quarter allowing both teams to shoot free throws. With the help of other teammates #5 Sami Willis and Scott made roughly another nine points with layups and jump shots for the team though Woodcreek still ended the quarter ahead with the score at 32-20.
After halftime the third quarter started with Whitney in possession of the ball. #14 Molly McConnell made half of the eight points scored by Whitney. Whitney made several steals and as the team tried catch up. The quarter ended with Woodcreek up 40-24.
At the start of the fourth quarter McConnell made a two-pointer and Sanchez got fouled and made both free throws, leaving the score 42-31 with Whitney down and less than five minutes on the clock. After successfully completing a play and making a shot # 20 Alana Vieira fouled out and Sanchez took her place. With 3:10 on the clock and Woodcreek up by 14 the girls try to stop Woodcreek from scoring, but Woodcreek’s #20 Mackenzie Kohler ran down and made a quick three-pointer. Scott made one last three-pointer and the game ended 56-39, with a loss for Whitney.
After the game, Katrina Nham, #35, told of how she felt she played well and did what the coach asked of her and discussed the team’s progress.
“I believe our team fought hard and are on the cusp of being great. Our team is becoming more cohesive and understanding of others’ movements and strength. We are fighters. I feel like our team needs to finish plays — we go through all the hard work to make things happen to only let the play slip in the last few moments. And rebounding has been a struggle this season,” Nham said.
Vieira felt she played defense well and was sad that she fouled out say she felt she might have been a little aggressive.
“I think we did extremely well and we put in a lot of effort. We need to work on executing the plays and starting the game with energy,” Vieira said.
“I think we’re really close to buffing it all up; they need to pay more attention to what’s happening,” varsity head coach Andy Carter, said.
Coach Carter invited everyone to come cheer the varsity on at their next game at home against Rocklin on Jan. 4 at 7:30.
