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Defense Steps Forward Over Weekend
A week that began with the Trapper women’s basketball team having to rally from 17 points down to defeat the Rocky Mountain JV ended with Northwest College putting the final touches on a 3-0 week that improved the team to 7-2 on the young season.
“It was good to get the wins,” said Trapper coach Janis Beal, who was proud of her team’s defensive effort in the second half of both a 92-56 win over Williston State College and an 86-57 win. “Both games this weekend, we were able to get out in the second half and force some steals and our defense was able to generate our offense with transition opportunities.”
The Trappers needed all the opportunities they could muster earlier in the week. Trailing by 17 points in the second half against the Rocky Mountain JV, Northwest found a way to rally back on the road and force overtime. The Trappers also hit a shot in the extra stanza to force a second overtime period before winning 91-85.
“We did a good job of keeping our composure and fighting back,” Beal said. “The problem was that we were down so far in the first place.”
Mariah Duran had a huge game for the Trappers with 33 points. Meagan Butler added 20 points and team highs of six assists and four steals. Kennedy Allen posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Taylor Ryan pulled down a team-best 14 rebounds in the victory.
On Friday, the Trappers trailed 31-30 late in the first half against Williston, but unleashed an 18-0 run spanning the late first and early second halves to take charge of the contest. Team captain Layana de Souza played a huge role in the charge, taking over at both ends of the floor to help create some takeaways and then finish at the opposite end of the court.
De Souza finished with a team-best 20 points in the contest and was one of four Trapper players to finish in double figures. Saige Hartman added 14 points. Duran turned in 13 points and Allen finished with 12.
Leslie Blackburn forced six steals as part of the second half defensive charge. In all, Northwest harassed Williston into committing 38 turnovers in the game, compared to just 18 giveaways by the Trappers.
“The other key thing about this win was how we defended their post,” said Beal. “When we played them at their place, we gave up quite a few points to their big girl. This time, we did a much better job of limiting her touches and limiting what she was able to do with the ball when she caught it.”
The Trappers’ weekend concluded with an 86-57 win over the Northwest All-Stars. The game was close, but Taylor Ryan’s 3-point bucket just before the halftime buzzer provided the Trappers with momentum
Northwest held the All-Stars to just 12 points through the first 10 minutes of the second half to gradually extend their lead for a comfortable win.
Allen and Duran led a balanced Trapper attack with 12 points each. De Souza added 11 points while Ryan and Savannah Minder added 10 points each. Powell High grad Leslie Thronburg narrowly missed joining that list with nine points.
The Trappers, 7-2, will find themselves challenged this weekend. The team travels to the College of Southern Idaho for tournament play. The team faces CSI on Friday before facing Snow College on Saturday.
Southern Idaho received votes in the latest NJCAA women’s basketball poll while Snow College entered the weekend ranked No. 16 nationally. The Trapper women knocked off Snow during recent tournament play in Salt Lake.
NORTHWEST 91, ROCKY MTN. JV 85 (2OT)
Meagan Butler 20, Kennedy Allen 14, Layana de Souza 7, Taylor Ryan 7, Mariah Duran 33, Savannah Minder 4, Saige Hartman 2, Leslie Blackburn 4.
NORTHWEST 92, WILLISTON 56
Meagan Butler 2, Kennedy Allen 12, Layana de Souza 20, Taylor Ryan 7, Mariah Duran 13, Daria Sharova 2, Savannah Minder 8, Ekaterina Sharova 2, Saige Hartman 14, Leslie Thronburg 5, Leslie Blackburn 7.
NORTHWEST 86, ALL-STARS 57
Meagan Butler 7, Kennedy Allen 12, Layana de Souza 11, Taylor Ryan 10, Marian Duran 12, Daria Sharova 3, Savannah Minder 10, Saige Hartman 7, Leslie Thronburg 9, Leslie Blackburn 5.