Jacob Martella, Staff Writer
November 11, 2010
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
Last year, the Lady Jags basketball team opened up the season with a tough 55-52 loss at home to Duncanville on their way to a berth in the regional semifinals. This year, things opened up differently as the Lady Jags beat the Martin Lady Warriors 45-38.
“I’m very proud of our team, bottom line,” junior Ashley Eli said.
The Lady Jags came out running, taking a 6-1 lead midway through the first quarter and had a 9-5 lead after one. Head coach Tammy Lusinger, however, said that that speed hurt them in a way.
“We’re fast, but right now we’re choosing when we want to be fast,” Lusinger said. “So that’s what we’re trying to get where we’re fast all the time.”
That lack of fastness hurt the lady Jags in the second quarter. The Lady Warriors went on a 12-6 run through the entire quarter to grab a 17-15 lead going into the half. Senior Jakayla Cage said that they just got settled.
“We got relaxed because we knew we were up by six,” Cage said. “So we had to get back to it.”
After the half, it was a different story. The Lady Jags quickly retook the lead and never looked back, outscoring the Lady Warriors 18-9 in the third quarter alone. Coach Lusinger said it was a defensive effort that propelled the Lady Jags back to the win.
“It was a great defensive effort,” Lusinger said. “Jessica Askew did a great job finishing there two or three times and we hit a couple of big threes which was huge.”
The Lady Jags lost seven seniors from last year’s team including Amy Moody, Loren McDaniel and Taylor Hooker. Martin, on the other hand, returned all their players from last year. That difference in experience was what Coach Lusinger said was the toughest part.
“Coming in, their size was a big concern,” Lusinger said. “I thought our guards did a great job of getting a lot of pressure all over the place. We’re a real young group and they’re a real veteran group.”
For Eli, who got on the varsity roster as a freshman, the role of being a leader of the team is tougher than she thought.
“It’s really hard,” Eli said. “I really have to step up in leading them because I sit back sometimes and I have to take charge. I have a lot to learn.”
Eli was also proud of her teammates, about half of which had never played on varsity until this game.
“Nobody gave up and everybody played hard,” Eli said. “They just played hard and they weren’t nervous.”
With a win in hand and a game at Mansfield on Nov. 16, Cage said this win helped their motivation.
“It motivates us,” Cage said. “It lets us know that we can beat tough teams.”
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