COLONY — The Crest High School Lady Lancers snapped the Marmaton Valley Wildcats two-game win streak with a 49-16 victory Friday.
Although senior guard Aylee Beckmon exploded in the second quarter with eight of her team-leading 27 points, a pair of buckets by senior forward Kaelin Nilges and sophomore forward Summer Valentine got the Lady Lancers rolling as they held MVHS to a single point in the first quarter, then just 6 points in the second, to take control early in Friday’s contest.
“Our last home game wasn’t the best, we had some injuries and other things going on, so we wanted to come back and redeem ourselves the first home game of the year,” Crest coach Steve Zimmerman said.
“We were ready to play defense. I’m glad to see it. I don’t think we’ve hit all cylinders quite yet, but it will be fun when it happens. We still have a lot of work to do, but this is a fun team.”
Although the Wildcats were held in the teens, Coach Adam Borth believes they had plenty of highlights.
Freshman forward Emma Louk accounted for all the Wildcat scores with 16 points despite having only seven players available due to injuries.
Evoking the proverb of iron sharpening iron, Coach Borth believes seeing elite-level teams in spite MVHS’ shortcomings is good for his program.
“It was a trial by fire. As the game went on, we got better,” Borth said. “It was a microcosm of not just each game we’re going to get better, but each quarter we’re going to get better. We did that tonight.”
WITH THE win, the Lady Lancers improved to 7-1 and 4-1 in Three Rivers League play. The Wildcats fell to 2-7 and 2-5 in the TRL.
Crest returns to the hardwood Tuesday against Altoona-Midway while MVHS takes on undefeated 8-0 Jayhawk-Linn Tuesday in Mound Valley.
For Crest, Beckmon led in scoring with 27 points, Valentine scored 10 points, and senior forward Kinley Edgerton and Valentine had 6 points each.
Beckmon credited her teammates for Friday’s performance.
“They were always there for backup or when I needed a rebound; none of it would have been possible without my team,” Beckmond said.
“We have a lot of potential, and we haven’t reached it yet. It’s exciting. Every single one of the players on the court has potential and a lot to give the team.”
