Medical Lake head girl’s basketball coach Carey Schwarzer aptly called Friday’s 57-33 loss to Freeman as, “The toughest team we’ve faced all season.”
The Cardinals were able to get a 51-44 win Tuesday in Kettle Falls to end the week 1-2 in the NEA and 4-4 overall.
True enough, the Scotties were in search of a third straight 1A title this past March when they lost 44-36 to Okanogan at Yakima’s Sun Dome. And they could be back again it appears.
Molly McIntyre’s 12 points along with 10 each from Katie Vold and Sierra McGarity helped Freeman roll to a 40-19 halftime lead. Their 22 offensive rebounds certainly aided the cause. “Missed box-outs hurt us,” Schwarzer said.
The Freeman defense did the rest by limiting Medical Lake to single-figure team points the final three quarters, and not allowing any Cardinal into double digit scoring. Maleeka Wegner’s 7 points, Darby Evans’ 6 and Brandi Wren with 6 led the Cards.
“Their full-court pressure took us out of our game,” Schwarzer said. Medical Lake was not able to break the press and also committed 33 turnovers.
Things went much better Tuesday against the NEA’s fellow new member, the Bulldogs from Kettle Falls. “It was a good team game,” Schwarzer said. “Kettle Falls was opposite of the Freeman game.”
But it was still a struggle that was not decided until the fourth quarter when the Cards broke a 33-33 tie with an 18-11 edge that decided it. The Cardinals got a game-high 19 points and 16 rebounds from Sabrina Earle, who “battled inside,” Schwarzer said.
In addition to Earle’s double-double, Medical Lake got solid play from a handful of others their coach said. “Maleeka Wegner battled hard all game.”
Cassidy Hagel had an “awesome effort,” Schwarzer said. Evans had eight points and three steals, Becky Troutt had eight rebounds and Wren seven. “We had great defensive hustle.”
Medical Lake had the Christmas break but resumes play at the West Valley Tournament in Spokane, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 27 and 28 when the Cardinals play Bonners Ferry and Timberlake. Each game is scheduled prior to the ML boy’s games, at 2:15 p.m.
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.
pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.
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