Slide Show of images from day one of the Northwestern A Divisional tournament.
The Whitefish Lady Bulldogs used a tight zone defense and a fourth-quarter offensive run to outlast the fourth-seeded Ronan Maidens in the Northwestern A Divisional tournament.
Whitefish’s lone senior Jessica Slaybaugh scored 15 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs.
The game was largely even through the first three quarters as both teams struggled to find their rhythm through multiple turnovers. Whitefish led after the first quarter 12-7, but the Maidens came back with perimeter shooting in the second quarter, trailing by two points at the half.
Both teams played zone defense through the second half, stifling the post players and forcing most of the shots to come from outside the key. The Lady Bulldogs penetrated the Maiden defense several times, but had a little trouble finishing their close-range shots.
But the Lady Bulldogs began pulling away in the beginning of the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run, led a coast-to-coast steal and basket by Slaybaugh and two free throws from Olivia Nagler, a junior.
The Maidens began chipping away at a 10-point deficit with just under three minutes to go, but their 4-0 run wasn’t enough to hold off the Lady Bulldogs. A series of fouls by the Maidens gave Whitefish four points from the free throw line, capping the game off. The Lady Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the line, with 11-22.
Ronan junior Alice Van Gunten led her young team with 11 total points, and Nina Orozco, a sophomore, tallied six points. The Maidens have played without any seniors.
The win brings the Lady Bulldogs to a 2-17 total record. The Maidens are now 1-18.
The Whitefish Lady Bulldogs will move on to face No. 1 Columbia Falls on Friday afternoon at Glacier High School. The Ronan Maidens head to the loser-out game on Saturday morning.
<a href="http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/game_center_2010_northwestern_a_divisionals/16246/" title="For more Northwestern A Divisional tournament coverage, visit the Game Center: 2010.“>For more Northwestern A Divisional tournament coverage, visit the Game Center: 2010.