The middle school girls basketball team won their home game against the McLean School 34-4 on Dec. 2. The team was particularly excited about the win as their only other game so far this season, against the Field School on Dec. 1, was a loss by two points in overtime.
Head coach Brett Kugler was particularly proud of the team’s progress from between the past two games. He felt he could definitely see the growth in many different aspects of their game.
“I saw a lot of really unselfish basketball and opportunities for people to look for their teammates,” Kugler said. “They took those opportunities, finished, and we had a lot of great offensive plays. But really, my biggest area of pride comes in our defense, because I think our defense really sets the tone for our team.”
The game started strong with eighth grade center Adelle Elgrably winning the jump ball, allowing seventh grade point guard Lily Demain to take first possession. Demain brought the ball down the court, and passed to Elgrably at the free throw line for a jump shot that put the first points on the board.
The Lions played a two-three defense the whole game, leading to steals that turned in to many fast breaks, resulting in many points to help the Lions gain a lead of 14-0 by the end of the first quarter.
“We’re definitely improving game by game, and I think that we can do really well by the end of the season,” Dermain said. “I think I did a good job going on fast breaks [in] this game.”
In the second quarter, sixth grade forward Lielle Kastan had a fast break right after subbing in for sixth grade Maya Levingston. The lions held Mclean to one basket throughout the first half of the game. The second quarter ended with the Lions leading 20-2.
“We just need to learn how to work together a little bit better, since it’s our second game. We need to find out where things click and the plays,” eighth grade forward Kayla Juda said. “We really need to get those figured out, because not everyone knows where they’re supposed to be.”
In the third quarter, Dermain passed the ball to sixth grade player Charlie Kobrin, who missed her jump shot. But rebounded it, passing it back to Dermain, who made the jump shot, creating an assist. The quarter ended with the Lions up 28-4.
During the fourth quarter, eighth grade forward Liza Cutler made a jump shot. Despite a steal in the middle of the quarter, McLean was able to land another shot from rebounding a missed shot from the Lions. The Lions rebounded from Mcleans missed shot, and Cutler made another jump shot, contributing to the 32-4 score. Seventh grade Rose Obstfeld contributed a lot to the defense with three rebounds and two assists throughout the whole game.
Kugler feels positively about the rest of the season and is ready to make sure the team takes the next step to by really focusing in practice and learning the plays this will make them become the best they can be.
“When I look, I see five girls out there that are playing,” Kugler said. “I see eight girls that are working, cheering on the bench, paying attention and learning. And when those girls come in and they get their chance, then we’ve mixed it up a little bit, and the five girls that are now on the court are the ones that are playing. But everybody has a role.”
