It is inspiring to watch a very young team, with little to no varsity playing experience, transform over time into a smooth basketball playing machine in front of one’s eyes. The Lady Lobos played three games in five days this week, first at the Lummi nation on Tuesday, then at home, playing against the Tulalip nation on Friday, and on Saturday playing against the LaConner Braves at home as well. Each time, the Lady Lobos improved. Against Lummi, the ladies lost 14-78. On Friday, the ladies were down against Tulalip 18-65 and on Saturday the team succumbed 29-54. But if one watched their development over the last 10 days of game-playing, the girls have learned in leaps and bounds and steadily improved both the number of turnovers and the number of points scored. With every game that passes, the Lady Lobos have increased the points on the board.
The Lopez team played an “in your face” defense that occasionally fouled the other team but was very effective in preventing scoring. The first quarter was 5-1, Lady Hawks leading. The Lopez team started off a little shaky in the first quarter but Sarah Stanley, Alexa Ogden and Lira Dalton fought hard to get the ball down the court while the Lady Hawks swarmed with a tenacious full court press (when the defense pressures at the half court mark and the guards delay moving into the key).
Once again basic techniques and mistakes a young team would make hindered the Lady Lobos. Double dribbling, traveling, and fouling were rampant. Marina Steinbrueck came in during the second quarter to shore up the offensive game and helped her team keep the ball in hostile territory. The Lady Hawks used a full court press on the lobos which kept Sarah Stanley and Alexa Ogden thwarted. The Lady Lobos lagged by 25 points in the second quarter and it seemed their spirits were flagging. The ladies were definitely off their shooting that night, but were valiant and numerous in their attempts.
Playing La Conner on Saturday the Lady Lobos played an outstanding set of quarters, with the Lopez team holding their own at 21-25 up into the second part of third quarter. “We were so pleased with our improvement on Saturday,” commented Coach Buffum. “The girls met and exceeded their goals by 200%. Both Mitch Altona and myself could not have been more pleased with their performance Saturday.” Sarah Stanley played with a pulled hamstring during the game, but it did not seem to deter her spirit or her determination as she tore down the court. Overall, the Lady Lobos displayed more poise in their third game of the week on Saturday, having a tremendous three quarters during the game, scoring more, remembering more of their pass plays and executing with more comfort. Lira Dalton also had her share of runs at the basket, though her scoring was just a bit off on Saturday afternoon. for the score. After playing a rousing three and a half quarters, Alexa Ogden came out at the fourth quarter with a sprained ankle that was hopefully not too severe.
On Tuesday, Dec. 16, the Lady Lobos travel to North Sound in Seattle to play the sixth game of their season.
