Girls basketball: Mavs hold off BK

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I traveled to Boise and got a chance to cover the Mountain View girls basketball team's home game against Bishop Kelly. It wasn't a pretty game, but MV may be on its way toward a special season. Here is the article that I wrote for the Maverick girls 2012-13 post-season yearbook.

Mavs battle past BK

Fouls, turnovers keep both teams from progressing,

but Mountain View pulls out a tough non-league win

By Bruce Smith

Matchup
 
            A week between games, being away from school or perhaps just playing on Thanksgiving weekend took its toll on the Mountain View girls basketball team Saturday night.
            It may have also have affected their opponent.
            Whatever the reason, the Mavericks and Bishop Kelly left the gym unfulfilled after Mountain View’s 47-34 non-league victory.
            “There were too many fouls. No one could get into a rhythm,” said Mountain View coach Connie Skogrand. “It looked like we hadn’t played basketball or even touched a ball in a week.”
            Despite school being out all week, the Mavs did practice. But 47 fouls (an average of almost one per minute of play) slowed the game. In the end, Josie Lawrence scored nine points and Destiny Slocum and Kayley Hastings had seven apiece as Mountain View improved to 4-1 overall.
            “We had an awesome Week 1, but took a step back,” Skogrand said. “I like the fact that we were challenged, though, and the girls understood what we wanted to do.”
            The Mavs shot just 29.8 percent and were only 19-of-35 from the free-throw line. If it hadn’t been for Aubrey Griffeth’s (6-8) performance there, it would have been far worse.
            Mountain View never trailed, though, and always seemed to respond when necessary.
            The Mavs built a 35-21 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the contest was never pretty. It was filled with turnovers, and the only reason the game wasn’t closer was due to Bishop Kelly’s shooting.
            The Knights made 9-of-59 shots (15.9 percent). In the second and third quarters, they were a combined 1-18. Gabi Harrington (nine points) and Racquelle Mouw (eight) helped Bishop Kelly get within nine points in the third quarter, but never any closer.
            “We stops and they had stops, but we couldn’t find the basketball and get the loose balls,” said BK coach Derek McCormick. “That was the quickest team we’ve played all year so far.”
             That’s saying something since the Knights’ schedule has included Centennial, Eagle, Boise Nampa and Skyview. Bishop Kelly showed impressive depth, substituting often and 10 players ended up having substantial playing time.
            The Mavs, however, didn’t wilt, even after Harrington hit a couple of baskets in the fourth quarter and Rebecca Hassell nailed a three-pointer. After each basket, BK called time out to set up full-court pressure. The ploy didn’t work well, however, as Slocum and Kayla Moore were usually able to dribble through.