The season has gotten off to a rocky start for Victoria East.
But it was hard to tell when the Lady Titans played Victoria West on Tuesday night at the East gym.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThis is a rivalry game,òòò½ÊÓƵ East head coach Yulonda Wimbish-North said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI think the kids rose to the occasion. I think weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re getting better at some of the fundamental things.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The Lady Titans (9-9, 1-1) closed out the first half on a 11-0 run and went on to a 53-42 District 22-5A win over the Warriors.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe just needed to get one win in district to give us confidence for the next few games that we have in district,òòò½ÊÓƵ said East guard Avery Valentine. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe need to keep the effort that we had tonight. We need to keep moving forward and get on to the next game.òòò½ÊÓƵ
West (10-5, 2-1) started strong behind post Karstyn Cann, who scored 11 of her 17 points in the first half.
The Warriors led 24-16 with 3:44 left in the second quarter when East rallied behind its transition game.
Valentine scored seven of her 17 points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Lady Titans their first lead. Kymorie Clark added four points and Kam Jackson had two.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s how weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to get our points,òòò½ÊÓƵ Valentine said. òòò½ÊÓƵœMainly in transition and us being aggressive with the ball and not turning it over.òòò½ÊÓƵ
East had success getting the ball into the post to Jackson, who had 15 points, in the second half.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI had talked to Kam about her presence on the inside,òòò½ÊÓƵ Wimbish-North said. òòò½ÊÓƵœShe has to be posting up and she did that. The kids did a good job of getting the ball inside to her. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m happy with what they did.òòò½ÊÓƵ
West tied the game at 35 on a 3-pointer by Aliana Soliz with 2:49 left in the third quarter, but Avery made a layup and Jackson added a pair of free throws and the Lady Titans never relinquished the lead.
òòò½ÊÓƵœShe knows how to play,òòò½ÊÓƵ Wimbish-North said of Valentine. òòò½ÊÓƵœShe is our leading scorer and she knows how to make plays. I give her the freedom to do so.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Wimbish-North is pleased with the improvements her team has made, and hopes to see them continue during the remainder of district play.
òòò½ÊÓƵœHopefully, we build on this and there are some fundamental things we need to get better at,òòò½ÊÓƵ she said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe missed some shots underneath the basket, and weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve got to get better at our free throw shooting. I told them to enjoy the win. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m very happy with what they did. They did an awesome job.òòò½ÊÓƵ
District 22-5A
Victoria East 53, Victoria West 42
Points: (W) Aliana Soliz 3, Zy Morgan 3, Courtney Lacy 8, Anasyeòòò½ÊÓƵ™ Scott 7, Karstyn Cann 17, Tatum Boyce 2, Rylee Conrad 2. (E) Avery Valentine 17, Kyra Dedrick 9, Saleen Longoria 2, Kymorie Clark 8, Kamryn Jackson 15, Jazell Williams 2.
Halftime: East 27-24. 3-pointers: Soliz, Scott, Valentine, Deadrick. Records: West 10-5, 2-1; East 9-9, 1-1. JV: West 39-36.
