EHS Girls wrangle Lady Longhorns

In the opening game at Encampment on Saturday the Lady Tigers easily took down Rock River, 55-24.

The non-conference win was a psychological boost for the 1-2, 1A Southwest Conference, 9-6 overall Lady Tigers. "We needed this one, we've struggled a little bit, so we really needed this one," coach Amy Clay said after the game.

The Lady Tigers took command of the game early and never looked back. Encampment was up by 10 at the end of the first quarter and only increased that lead. As the result of an effective full-court press mixed with a man defense the Lady Tigers went to the locker room with a 32-11 halftime lead.

Clay coached the girls to box out in a man defense. She also told the girls to focus on their passing.

The third quarter showed more effective passing by the Lady Tigers as they continued a dominant full-court press. The third quarter ended 39-13.

By the fourth quarter Clay had subbed in many of her less-experienced girls and the bench turned the ball over numerous times allowing Rock River 9 points. Encampment regrouped in the last two minutes putting an additional 8 points on the board, ending the game up by 30.

By the end of the game the Lady Tigers had backed off on their full-court press. "I wanted to use our press more, but I've been on the other side of it. It's not cool when your pressing and you're 30 ahead," Clay said.

Team leaders against Rock River were Cassidy Little with 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and five steals; Courtney James with 14 points, nine rebounds and 3 for 3 from the three-point range; and Konnar Knotwell 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and was 3 for 3 from three-point range.

Micaiah Pantle did not play due to the torn ligament in her hand, suffered during the game in Saratoga on Friday.

Clay said the team will be working on their passing and boxing out in man defense this week in preparation for Hanna/Elk Mountain/Medicine Bow (H/E/M) this weekend.

"We're really going to work on our boxing out. We are struggling a little bit with that. I think it's because we have switched to a man defense and they are still a little star-gazed about that," Clay said.

The Lady Tigers host the H/E/M Lady Miners at 4 p.m., Fri., Jan. 30.