CLYDE – The 2018-19 Ross girls basketball season tipped off in fine fashion Friday night.
The Lady Giants opened at neighboring Clyde where they outscored the Fliers in every quarter thanks to a balanced attack that saw four players score in double figures in a 60-43 victory.
Olivia Baptista
Marissa Overmyer
“I thought we shared the ball very well at times. I saw our defense played well, for the most part, as far as playing together, playing as one unit,” coach Juan Vela said. “We won the rebounding war which is always a key to us.
“Still room for a lot of improvement but we got the W. That was the goal and we got it done.”
Ross steadily increased its lead through the night. After taking a 13-8 lead after the first quarter, the Lady Giants grew the advantage to seven at halftime and entered the fourth quarter ahead by 13.
Seniors Olivia Baptista and Rachel Gore led Ross, each scoring 12 points, sophomore Brooklyn Baptista added 11 and senior Marissa Overmyer scored 10. That level of balanced scoring, Vela said, is a result of a roster focused on playing a team-focused brand of basketball.
Rachel Gore
Brooklyn Baptista
“These girls are very unselfish and whatever the defense gives us, is what we will take,” Vela said. “I think a lot of the girls have enough skills to either shoot it, drive it or pass it.”
“Rachel was quiet last year, and she came out in the tournament,” he added. “And she’s shooting the ball well right now. It was nice to see her have a good game for us.
“Marissa does a lot of little things correct. She passes the ball well, sets screens, she knows where she has to be, and she communicates on defense. Just a lot of little things that don’t come up (on the scoresheet) but we, as coaches, say ‘She did a good job there.’”
The Lady Giants (1-0) are back in action Tuesday, playing their home-opener against Sandusky Perkins at 7:30.
“They made a lot more plays than they did mistakes, definitely,” Vela said. “But the girls know we have to tighten up on D, offensively we have to tighten some things up. We’ll learn as we go. Hopefully we’re not hitting our peak in the first game, but overall we got it done and that’s what matters.”
FREMONT ROSS 60, CLYDE 43
FR – 13—11—22—14 60
C – 8—9—16—10 43
FREMONT ROSS (60)
Brooklyn Baptista 11, Olivia Baptista 12, Molly Mies 6, Rachel Gore 12, Mikeaya McLaurin 5, Jasannah Sabiers 4, Marissa Overmyer 10. Totals, 23 12-9 60.
CLYDE (43)
Alexis Keegan 16, Sierra Hisey3, Kristen Hurrah 6, Haley Salazar 9, Jackie Smith 9. Totals, 17 5-7 43.