CHENEY -- “The most difficult part of our schedule” as Cheney girls basketball Coach Meredith Richards called it, is so far living to the description.
Cheney lost at home Jan. 9 to Gonzaga Prep, 63-39 and then on the road Jan. 12 to Central Valley 68-28.
At CV (3-0 GSL, 10-3 overall), the Bears raced to a 26-3 first-quarter lead against the Blackhawks (0-3, 3-10) and by halftime they were up 46-9. Cheney was shutout until the final 30 seconds of the period.
Richards described Central Valley as “difficult to guard with multiple threats at the 3-point line.”
The Bears were all of that and shot 5-of-10 from the perimeter in the first quarter alone.
Cheney played minus two of their usual starters, Mia Ashcroft and Kiah Klauss.
“I think we allowed that to get into our heads more than we should have and just weren’t able to bounce back,” Richards said. Macey Richards was Cheney’s top scorer with 9 points.
“This game was one of those that you just shake your head at, hopefully take something away to learn from, and move on,” the coach said.
Opening the week at G-Prep (3-0, 10-3), the start was much improved as Cheney trailed 28-19 at the break.
“Down by 4 at the end of the first quarter, and 9 at halftime was a really good feeling,” Richards said. “We weren’t able to hold on as well through the second half, but we did not walk out of the gym feeling completely defeated.
“We showed up with some confidence and a drive to ‘do the little things,’” Richards said. That showed in limiting the Bullpups to just 6 fast break points.
In a one-on-one test, Macey Richards had to contend with Prep’s 6-foot-3 post, Gillian Bears. Richards scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, and while Bears scored 25, she was held to 6 rebounds.
“When you’re paired up against a bigger post it can be intimidating but Macey rose up to the challenge,” Richards said.
Cheney was at Mead (3-0, 12-1) Jan. 16 and returns home to face Lewis and Clark (1-1, 7-6) on Friday, Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m.
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