mjackson@escalontimes.com
Playing their final two games of the season at home, neither one went in the win column for Escalon's varsity girls. They hosted Hughson and Ripon and honored a pair of seniors prior to Thursday night's finale with Ripon.
The first game was on Tuesday, Feb. 17, with the Lady Cougars taking on Hughson. The visiting Huskies took a 51-29 win.
"We had several shots but nothing went in," head coach Kristie Cathcart said. "We were down quite a bit at the half, but they still went out and played hard."
Hughson took a 9-5 lead after one but got on a tear, outscoring host Escalon 20-12 in the second period to lead it 29-17 at the halfway point.
Annie Gallego had six of her seven points in the second quarter. Shayleen Archer put in 15 points on the night to lead the girls, with four from Breanna Brodie and three from Jennifer Shipley.
The teams were close again in the third quarter, Escalon scoring seven to Hughson's six, but the Huskies put the game out of reach with a 16-5 run in the fourth.
Cathcart said despite trailing, the varsity girls played the game out, fighting until the final whistle.
"They didn't give up," she said. "That was a positive that came out of it."
Prior to tip off on Thursday, Feb. 19 with Ripon, varsity players Krystal Lawrence and Rachel Leal were recognized with their parents at center court for their contributions to the basketball program during their high school careers at Escalon.
Ripon spoiled the party, though, taking a 45-27 win.
"We couldn't run an offense for most of the night," Cathcart explained. "They do man and we don't do well against that."
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Cougars changed things up and started running a different offense, having their highest scoring output over the final eight minutes.
Ripon took a 19-6 lead after one and was up 32-12 at the half. It was 42-16 after three, then the host team hit double digits in the fourth quarter with 11 points, while limiting Ripon to three.
"They did put their non-starters in," Cathcart said of the visitors.
Anne Bacay and Rachel Leal paced the team with six points each, followed by Archer with five, Brodie with four, Gallego and Stephanie Anserlian each putting in three points.
The girls ended the season with a 6-18 overall mark and were 2-8 in Trans-Valley League play.
The bulk of the team will stay intact, with some players making the move up from the JV level as well.
"We need to work this summer on shooting and just playing basketball," Cathcart said of how the squad can improve on the win totals next season.
Playing their final two games of the season at home, neither one went in the win column for Escalon's varsity girls. They hosted Hughson and Ripon and honored a pair of seniors prior to Thursday night's finale with Ripon.
The first game was on Tuesday, Feb. 17, with the Lady Cougars taking on Hughson. The visiting Huskies took a 51-29 win.
"We had several shots but nothing went in," head coach Kristie Cathcart said. "We were down quite a bit at the half, but they still went out and played hard."
Hughson took a 9-5 lead after one but got on a tear, outscoring host Escalon 20-12 in the second period to lead it 29-17 at the halfway point.
Annie Gallego had six of her seven points in the second quarter. Shayleen Archer put in 15 points on the night to lead the girls, with four from Breanna Brodie and three from Jennifer Shipley.
The teams were close again in the third quarter, Escalon scoring seven to Hughson's six, but the Huskies put the game out of reach with a 16-5 run in the fourth.
Cathcart said despite trailing, the varsity girls played the game out, fighting until the final whistle.
"They didn't give up," she said. "That was a positive that came out of it."
Prior to tip off on Thursday, Feb. 19 with Ripon, varsity players Krystal Lawrence and Rachel Leal were recognized with their parents at center court for their contributions to the basketball program during their high school careers at Escalon.
Ripon spoiled the party, though, taking a 45-27 win.
"We couldn't run an offense for most of the night," Cathcart explained. "They do man and we don't do well against that."
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Cougars changed things up and started running a different offense, having their highest scoring output over the final eight minutes.
Ripon took a 19-6 lead after one and was up 32-12 at the half. It was 42-16 after three, then the host team hit double digits in the fourth quarter with 11 points, while limiting Ripon to three.
"They did put their non-starters in," Cathcart said of the visitors.
Anne Bacay and Rachel Leal paced the team with six points each, followed by Archer with five, Brodie with four, Gallego and Stephanie Anserlian each putting in three points.
The girls ended the season with a 6-18 overall mark and were 2-8 in Trans-Valley League play.
The bulk of the team will stay intact, with some players making the move up from the JV level as well.
"We need to work this summer on shooting and just playing basketball," Cathcart said of how the squad can improve on the win totals next season.
