Lady Bulldogs crush Worland for conference win

The Lovell Lady Bulldogs stormed back into conference play in a big way Thursday night in their first home game of the season as they burst out to a 19-0 lead and cruised from there to clobber the Worland Warriors 49-28.

Mixing aggressive defenses, the Lady Bulldogs forced 10 turnovers in the first quarter as they jumped passing lanes, got their hands on passes and hit transition baskets as well as key shots in their offense.

“I think just the ability to have effort and energy in rotations in whatever defense we were in had a big impact, whether it was full court (pressure) or in our man,” coach Brian May said. “We were able to get some deflections, and people were feisty and getting hands on balls and moving their feet well. We hit some shots, but we also got some points off turnovers, and that just kind of builds momentum. I think the other thing that I was really proud of them for was (defending Kathva) Navarro. She averages about 21 (points per game), and we held her to 10.

So we did mix up some full-court zone with some half-court man and then some (other) half-court defenses, as well, utilizing a 1-3-1 and a 2-3 zone.

“I really felt, too, that there were times where our transition game was really quick and up tempo, where our girls really did a nice job reading the throw ahead and we had some easy layups off of our transition game.”

Senior Becca Nichols started the game with a three-pointer, and Brooklin Clark converted a steal to set the early tone. Ali Walker hit a jumper in the lane, then fed sister Avery on the fast break to put Lovell up 9-0, forcing a Worland time out.

One of two at the foul line and an offensive rebound bucket by Ali was followed by a fast-break hoop by Avery, and Kaydree Owens came off the bench for a steal and bucket and a trey to complete the 19-0 opening run. Navarro finally scored two late baskets in the quarter as Lovell led 19-4 after one.

The Lady Bulldogs continued to pour it on, outscoring Worland 15-4 in the second quarter to lead 34-8 before a late three-pointer by Worland left Lovell up 34-11 at halftime.

After dominating the first half, the Lady Bulldogs settled in and took care of business in the second, holding Worland to 17 points but only scoring 15 themselves as they got some shots but often found a lid on the basket.

“We had some looks, but they did a nice job,” May said of the Warriors. “They switched their defenses, too, like one time it’d be man and next time down it’d be a zone. And so our girls anticipating that and we as coaches trying to help them understand the look that they were giving us defensively had changed, too, but I think it’s accurate to say that we did have plenty of looks at the basket, opportunities that we had that we just didn’t make.

“That first half is how we want to play, and you want to put together back-to-back halves.” 

Clark led the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points, and Avery Walker added 11, Ali Walker 8, Nichols 6, Owens 5 and Kandace Asay and Hannity Felkins 2 apiece. Avery Walker led the team with eight rebounds and added four assists, and Ali Walker led with five assists and four steals.

Lovell also won the junior varsity game 39-31. Lovell led 23-7 at halftime and 33-13 after three. Worland stormed back in the fourth quarter, 18-6, but couldn’t finish the comeback.

Asay led Lovell with 11 points, and Morgan Harshman added 8, Jenna Hessenthaler 6, Brynnlee Spanier 5, Macie Anderson 4, Kaydree Owens 3 and Ava Edwards and Myles May 1 apiece.

“We played very well the first three quarters,” coach Jen Hessenthaler said. “This game ended up being much closer than it should have been. We had some girls battling illness and others struggling to finish their shots, and we had some letdowns defensively. Thankfully, we had built up quite a lead going into the fourth quarter.”

Two more at home

The Lady Bulldogs will stay home this weekend for one conference and one non-conference game. Lovell hosts Powell tonight (Thursday) at 4 (JV) and 5:30 p.m. for a key conference matchup. The Lady Panthers come in at 9-4 overall, 1-1 in conference games, and are a strong team in the 3A West, May said.

“They’ve got three or four guards, and they just push the ball and will get after us defensively in the full court, and so it’ll be fun to see,” May said. “I think the Hernandez girl (Emery) averages probably 16 a game. She’s a good scorer. She’s quick and will take it to the basket. She’ll hit threes. Coy Erickson’s a good guard, as well, and will hit shots. The Floy girl is a sophomore that is quick. We hope that we match up with them, and it’ll be a really good game. We just have to be able to keep girls in front of us and handle their pressure, and hopefully some of our pressure will get to them.

Then after an open date Friday, the Lady Bulldogs will host 2A Thermopolis Saturday, a team they beat 57-49 January 16 during the Big Horn Basin Classic. Tap times are 2:30 (JV) and 4 p.m. at Winterholler Gym.

May said the Lady Bobcats will come to play. 

“They just seem to just keep at it,” he said. “They’re scrappy, and if you allow it, they’ll hit three-point shots. Their post play will be solid. They’ve got a couple of guards that are their top scorers. We just have to be able to guard and hopefully get some pressure on them and make it our game.”