2010-2011 Mustang Girls game recaps
12/10/10 -
12/10/10 -
Girls basketball: Mustangs just too much -
Prosser seniors lead way to win against Wapato
WAPATO, Wash.
— When girls coach Joe Blodgett flips the switch on Wapato’s pressure defense,
results have come swift and sure in this young season. That’s how the Wolves
defeated Zillah on opening day, and that’s what sparked the offense to a
21-point victory over CWAC contender Ephrata last week. But against Prosser,
well …
“The kind of
pressure our kids can bring, that would get to most teams,” Blodgett said. “But
not Prosser, and our girls kind of know that. We warned them not to respect them
too much but it’s hard. Prosser deserves respect.” Coming off a state runner-up
season with just two seniors, the Mustangs were indeed respectable in an early
pairing of 2-0 teams, dispatching upstart Wapato 60-40 in the Wolves’ nicely
refurbished gym. Prosser’s veteran forces had a huge impact as Tamara
Jones produced a dominant double-double of 21 points and a career-high 24
rebounds and Tayshia Hunt covered the court with a relentless floor game. “The
seniors have been through it and we rely on them,” said Prosser coach Mark
Little. “When Wapato scored 65 against Ephrata we knew what they were capable
of. Fortunately we played some pretty good defense.” Which is the Prosser
bedrock. Even if the offense is sputtering the Mustang defense is always
wall-to-wall. “Coach always says defense is our No. 1 priority,” explained Hunt,
whose impressive stat line contained 13 points, five rebounds, five assists,
four steals and three blocks. “It feels like we’re a little ahead of this time
last year. We’re quicker.” Scary thought. In its 3-0 start, which includes a
solid win over perennial power East Valley, Prosser is holding opponents to
23.3-percent shooting. And that’s without its defensive sparkplug, Helen
Petersen. “We’re all real excited about getting Helen back,” Hunt said. Petersen
sprained an ankle in Prosser’s state soccer quarterfinal last month and should
be ready to go on Tuesday at Ellensburg. Picking up the slack, sophomore Sydney
Mercer has emerged without hesitating. Coming off the bench, the 5-foot-11
Mercer has scored 41 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in three games. She made 5
of 10 shots against Wapato. “Sydney saw this chance coming and she worked
incredibly hard over the summer to be ready,” Little noted. “She loves to play.”
Wapato had nothing to feel sorry about, losing six seniors off last year’s squad
with three of them now playing in college. Senior Sammi Jo Blodgett pitched in
11 points and that was matched by the Wolves’ impressive sophomore newcomer,
Joanne Anderson. “We lost a lot of good seniors and that put us under the radar
a little,” Blodgett said. “But I’ve seen these kids coming up and I knew we’d be
OK. Prosser’s just a tough matchup for us. They’re physical and they bring
plenty of their own pressure. It was a growing experience for us.” And for
Prosser, a confirmation.
12/4/10 - At Prosser, Wash., Sydney Mercer hit 10 of 15 shots for a game-high 23 points, and Tamara Jones added 21 points and nine rebounds for the Mustangs.
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