By Bill Bray
FREMONT – Makenna Englund, Aleah Whaley and Hannah Sheidler finished their “Purple Pit” careers on a winning note as the Lady Giants defeated the St. Ursula Arrows 53-35 Monday night.
It was a slow first half, as the Giants were sluggish after a busy week of basketball, but things changed in the second half and Janiah Holmes and Co. ran way with the TRAC victory.
After a “ho-hum” first half, the Little Giants erupted for 32 second half points to secure their 11th win in 13 TRAC games. Their only two losses coming at the hands of the conference champion, Toledo Central Catholic.
After the Saturday battle, the teams and their coach were still feeling the sting a bit going into Monday’s game. “I told the girls, it was one of the toughest losses I have ever had,” coach Juan Vela said. “But it’s over, tonight we got a win, and it’s all good now.”
Ross was held to 21 points during the first half and went to the locker room with a 21-20 lead against a team that was 4-16 coming into the contest. “At halftime I told the girls, ‘Shoot the ball. If it’s your shot, shoot the ball.’” Vela said. “I love paint shots (close to the basket), but I don’t need them all the time. I think sometimes the girls are working to get that, to get the ball to Janiah. I said ‘Janiah, feed it back out and let’s get some ‘threes’”. The ladies responded to Vela’s plea as Sheidler hit a three and Carma Johnson added a three-ball. After scoring 21 points the whole first half, those two shots helped the Giants collect 20 third period points.
Entering the fourth quarter there was still one thing the Giants were lacking. The question remained, would senior Aleah Whaley hit for one of her patented ‘threes’. As not to disappoint, Whaley did just that to put the icing on the TRAC win cake.
Statistically, Holmes led the Giants with six two-point shots and four of eight from the foul line to finish with 16 points. Johnson finished with five twos and one three for 13. All three Giants’ senior contributed to their final home game as Whaley had three points, Englund added three and Sheidler had one two and two threes for eight points.
Next up, the Lady Giants enter the Division I state tournament with a Sectional final game vs Oregon Clay Saturday at Genoa High School. Game time is set for 2:00pm.
Senior Makenna Englund take a shot during her final appearance in the “Purple Pit” Monday night.
Senior Hannah Sheidler hit for two three-pointers and a two-pointer for eight points in her final appearance in the “Purple Pit” vs St. Ursula
Senior Aleah Whaley gets the cover photo this morning with her final appearance in the “Purple Pit”. Whaley thrilled the crowd with a patented “Three-ball” during fourth quarter action.