Skyline girls top Oly in region rivalry game

On Jan. 27, I watched the Skyline girls beat Olympus in a battle for supremacy in Region 7. It was a pleasure to watch these teams. I know the coaches well and understand all the effort they put into their teams. Here's the article I wrote for their basketball yearbooks.

Tuinei, Aberton spark Eagles to rivalry win

By Bruce Smith
Matchup

It was rivalry night at Skyline and Olympus high schools. While most of the fans likely jammed Oly’s gym to watch the boys game, it was a busy night at Skyline where the girls decided first place in the Region 7 race.

Miquelle Askew scored 15 points and Ashley Aberton had 13 as the Eagles downed the Titans to take a two-game lead in the region standings. At least, that’s how the media reported it.

If you were there, you had to see it much differently.

Ta’a Tuinei had just two points. That was well below her 7.8 points per game average, but she and Aberton seemed to be all over the court. Together, they created havoc on both ends of the floor as Skyline won its ninth straight game.

Tuinei had 14 rebounds as Skyline held a 36-18 advantage in that department. She also lunged out the perimeter in the Eagles’ zone defense and blocked four shots.

“She was the key,” said Skyline coach Deb Bennett. “She’ll probably leave here as the career leader.”

Aberton, meanwhile, used her superior speed and quickness to break Oly’s press and pass the ball to open teammates. The Titans had far more depth, but no defender could catch up to her.

She was credited with just one assist, but what she meant on the court was far more.

“She has an extra gear that nobody else has,” Bennett said.

The win improved Skyline to 11-5 overall and 5-0 in region. The Eagles have a two-game lead in the standings with just five to play. Olympus had its chance, but fell to 8-7 overall and 3-2.

Oly coach Kael Ashton said he was feeling pretty good early because the Titans got the shots they wanted. Oly had a couple of nice scoring runs early in the game and actually had a four-point lead at one point. Ashton, however, noted that Skyline got transition baskets off blocks, missed shots and 18 Titan turnovers to put the Eagles back in front.

Skyline led 23-19 at halftime, and held Oly scoreless for the first four minutes of the second half. The Eagles slowly built the lead behind the scoring of Askew, who also snared 11 rebounds, Aberton and sophomore Sydnee Taylor (nine points).

“Other teams have double-teamed and thrown a box-and-one on Miquelle, but other players are stepping up,” Bennett said. “It all starts at the point, though, where Ashley has that leadership role, and she wants it.”

Oly’s superior depth (the Titans used 11 players) wasn’t much of a factor. Rachel VanderToolen had a fine performance, with 17 points, but she was the only player who consistently tried to go to the basket.

That fact surprised Ashton, especially after they had done it so many times in recent games.

“We had a lot of missed opportunities,” he said. “We are a senior-laden team and are used to playing in big games. We were jittery.”


GAME SUMMARY

Olympus 9 10 7 6 - 32
Skyline 10 13 10 11 - 44

OLYMPUS (32) – Janie Egan 1-3 0-0 2, Rachel VanderToolen 4-5 7-13 17, Kenzie Droubay 3-8 0-1 6, Lily Besler 0-2 0-0 0, Jen Nichols 1-5 0-0 2, Kristan Smith 0-3 0-0 0, Morgan Oliphant 1-4 0-0 2, Lizzie Egan 1-2 0-0 3, Ellie Gillet 0-0 0-0 0, Jessie Mahas 0-1 0-0 0, Alyssa Meredith 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 11-35 7-14 32.
SKYLINE (44) – Ashley Aberton 3-7 7-9 13, Ta’a Tuinei 1-6 0-0 2, Miquelle Askew 7-15 1-2 15, India Phidnis 1-1 0-1 2, Sydnee Taylor 3-9 3-8 9, Mia Mortensen 1-1 1-1 3, Caroline Li 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-39 12-21 44.
Total fouls: Olympus 16, Skyline 13. Fouled out: J. Egan. Technical fouls: Li.
Three-point shooting: Olympus 3-9 (VanderToolen 2, L. Egan). Skyline 0-4.
Rebounds: Olympus 18 (VanderToolen 5), Skyline 36 (Tuinei 14).
Turnovers: Olympus 18, Skyline 16.