MONTESANO —Montesano’s girls used its defense to fuel a furious, fast-paced offensive attack on their way to a rout of Aberdeen on Tuesday night, Dec. 19.
The Bulldogs trounced the Bobcats, 76-37, in a non-league home game that featured an up-tempo style that Aberdeen struggled against.
Monte (7-1) jumped out to a lead right away by forcing turnovers in its zone press that frustrated Aberdeen’s ball-handlers.
The Bulldogs led 15-8 after the first quarter and backed off their press a little bit in the second quarter but still forced takeaways with effective double teams, taking advantage of ineffective off ball movement from Aberdeen.
Despite their struggles bringing the ball up the floor, the Bobcats (1-6) were occasionally able to get to the basket for some easier shots when the mid-range game couldn’t be relied on.
Reagan Glanz and Angel Jones scored 17 and 12 points, respectively, primarily by scoring in the post to keep the score from getting out of hand by halftime.
On the other end of the floor, Monte’s Zoe Hutchings went to work in the paint as Bobcat defenders struggled to contain the 6-foot center who erupted for 22 points. She also had 10 rebounds.
Zoee Lisherness had 15 points and Lexi Lovell 13 for the Bulldogs.
Hutchings did well posting up against undersized defenders. There wasn’t much posting up in the third quarter where the Bulldogs used a series of steals to outscore the Bobcats 26-7 in the period.
Katie Granstrom provided a big lift for the Bulldogs on defense, coming away with six steals while adding five assists.
Monte head coach Julie Graves said she liked the way her team moved the ball when steals turned into fast breaks.
“We had kids looking up the floor and looking inside and hitting the open person,” she said. “That’s what we want to do, have good ball movement and get the best available shot. If someone is open on the interior we need to get it inside.”
With the game out of hand by the beginning of the fourth quarter, both teams emptied the bench and allowed some of the younger players to get some time on the floor.
Aberdeen head coach John Yonich said his team was fatigued by the pace of play and lack of players but he said he was encouraged by what he saw from his team in the first half.
“They were the better team tonight but I told those girls that if they play the way they did in the first half against Hoquiam, then we’ll be in good shape,” he said.
Graves said was pleased overall with Tuesday night’s result but wants to see more intesnity from the opening tip the next time the Bulldogs hit the floor.
“We have to improve on our intensity from the beginning and continue to get better,” she said. “We can’t be satisfied with where we’re at right now and we need to get better every time we step on the floor whether its practice or a game.”
Aberdeen 8 13 7 9 — 37
Monte 15 18 26 17 — 76
Aberdeen (37) — Jones 12, Orona 4, Glanz 17, Pruett 2, Heikkila 1, Walsh, Krenz . FG — 12-33 (.363). FT — 12-16.
Montesano (76) — Granstrom 1, Ekerson 3, Hutchings 22, Grubb, Stanfield 8, Lovell 13, Lisherness 15, Perkinson 8, Miller 6, Mittleider. FG — 32-64 (.500). FT — 11-22.
Montesano’s Zoe Hutchings slips between Aberdeen’s Reagan Glanz (4) and Kennedy Pruett on the way to the basket on Tuesday. (Brendan Carl Photography)
