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Defense leads Galt over Florin as win streak reaches four
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File Photo
Sam Messersmith and Jena Blasingame battle for the ball in a game earlier this season. Galt limited Florin to three points in the first half of Monday’s game, and won 40-12.
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By Kerensa Uyeta-Buckley
Herald Sports
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In Galt’s first 10 games of the preseason, head coach Brandon Fletcher has made sure that most of his players have hit the floor each game, if not all.
The practice has allowed Galt players to contribute to each game, and their numbers are becoming apparent.
Perusing Galt’s numbers Monday night, it was clear that everybody lent a hand in the varsity girls’ basketball game against Florin.
Ten of Galt’s 12 members scored against the Lady Panthers, and those who did not, assisted in other ways.
Defense was a big factor as well for the Lady Warriors, which held Florin to an average of three points per quarter in their 40-12 win inside Warrior Gym.
“We always have a balance in scoring. If you look at our box scores, from all of our games, I play pretty much all of my players. I think there are only a couple of games where I haven’t played everybody. I usually have eight or nine people score in a game,” Fletcher said Monday after the game.
Fletcher also added, whether a player scores or not, she still makes a contribution to the game.
“You don’t have to score to contribute. If you’re on the floor playing good defense and rebounding or making something happen for another player, you’re contributing that way,” Fletcher said.
Monday’s game was a defensivefight, with both teams forcing turnovers and fouling each other throughout the evening.
Galt did not pull away to a significant lead until the second quarter, when it held Florin scoreless.
Florin was limited to three points in the first quarter, and did not score again until Tenise Brewer sank a basket in the third quarter with 1:29 on the clock.
Galt went on a 16-point streak that started in the first quarter and went on until Brewer scored in the third quarter to make it a 24-5 game.
Galt was physically bigger than Florin, and blocked shots or made key rebounds that allowed Galt to gain valuable second chances at scoring.
Sam Messersmith led Galt with 11 points, and Erin Velguth was second in scoring with five points.
Alrica Sheppard led Florin with six points, Brewer had four points, and Jaci Dennis has two points to complete the scoring for the Lady Panthers.
“It was definitely a defensive battle tonight. It was extremely physical, especially when you got into the painted area,” Fletcher said.
Defense has been a key for the Lady Warriors all season, and Fletcher made it clear that that effort continued against Florin.
The results were similar to recent Galt scores, as well, with Galt limiting its opponents to
“You weren’t going to get up a shot without meeting some heavy resistance on both ends,” Fletcher said of Monday’s game.
“We pride ourselves on playing defense and being physical and making it difficult for you to score. Last week, we held Woodland to 15 points, we held Oakmont to 21,” Fletcher said.
Friday
Galt won a close game Friday night at Lincoln High School in Stockton, and edged out the lady Trojans 68-66.
Messersmith led Galt with 23 points, eight rebounds, and five steals.
Velguth had 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists, and Natalie Oelsner and Jena Blasingame both had eight points.
Galt is playing in the Oak Ridge Toss Up, which will run through Saturday, and opened up the tournament with a game against Placer.
“It’ll be a good test,” Fletcher said of Placer. “They went to the quarterfinals last year and lost a hard battle to El Camino. They’re a very good basketball team and they can shoot.”
Galt will start the league season Jan. 9 at home against Oak Ridge, after playing one last preseason game against Stagg High School after the winter break.
Galt falls to Lincoln in junior varsity match-up
By Kerensa Uyeta-Buckley
Herald Sports-A combination of missed Galt opportunities and on-target shooting by Lincoln turned Friday’s junior varsity basketball game into an easy 66-59 win for the latter team.
Passion and quickness are two assets that are commonly used in basketball and in most sports in general.
Galt’s drive waned as the evening went on, however, and that translated into a 16-point Lincoln run in the second quarter that gave Lincoln a 20-point lead at halftime.
Lincoln’s offense dominated the Warriors Friday night, and Galt’s defense was continually challenged by the Trojans, who did not let up as the game went into the second half.
The Warriors were within two points of Lincoln in the second quarter after a shot by Michele Pagnano brought them within 18-16 with 6:18 left.
Jake Middleton scored with 4:06 left and was fouled, keeping the Warriors within four points of Lincoln.
Lincoln scored the next eight points, however, and several turnovers and missed shots by Galt allowed Lincoln to climb to a 38-18 lead at halftime.
The junior varsity Warriors will have a five-day break before they play their next game Dec. 27 at the Whitney Christmas Classic, which will be held over three days.
Defense paves way to freshman Lady Warriors win
By Kerensa Uyeta-Buckley
Herald Sports-Once any stress about winning a game has passed, basketball becomes an easier, more relaxed game.
That was the case for the Lady Warriors Monday night against the Florin Panthers.
Galt limited the Lady Panthers to just eight points in the first half and controlled the tempo for most of the first half in its 47-15 win.
Galt made Monday’s game look easy, and appeared more experienced and practiced than their Florin counterparts.
The Lady Warriors easily pounced on numerous Florin passes for steals.
Other times, Galt used an attentive defense to closely guard Florin.
Florin’s reliance on passing in the first half, rather than dribbling, helped move the game along for Galt, which appeared to swat away almost every Florin pass.
A closely-manned Galt defense also produced Florin turnovers, often stumping the Lady Panthers.
Galt held Florin to five points in the first quarter and three in the second quarter and led 27-8 at halftime.
While Galt maintained a steady offensive output into the second half, Florin was held to one free throw in the fourth quarter.
Galt is currently participating in the Oak Ridge Toss Up, which lasts through Saturday.
Lincoln edges freshman Warriors
By Kerensa Uyeta-Buckley
Herald Sports-While things didn’t exactly go the Warriors’ way late in their game with Lincoln, it wasn’t for lack of effort.
Defensive rebounds, steals, and shots were all part of the Warriors’ efforts to overtake Lincoln Friday, but the response was a bit too late for a team that saw its lead slip away in the second quarter and the Warriors lost 42-35.
Galt was down 38-31 with 5:25 left, before a Josh Dela Cruz shot brought the Warriors within 38-33.
Dela Cruz grabbed a defensive rebound after a missed shot by Lincoln, but Galt wasn’t able to score.
However, a Lincoln foul turned the ball over to Galt.
Galt would score only once more, on a basket by Kevin Krivda with 44 seconds left that brought Galt within 41-35.
While Galt was not able to quite catch up to Lincoln, it had led Lincoln early in the game.
A three-point shot by Kevin Krivda gave the Warriors a 14-5 lead at the end of the first quarter, and Galt maintained that margin into the second quarter.
Over a minute and a half into the second quarter, however, Lincoln went on a 10-point run that gave the visitors a 17-16 lead with 3:16 left in the half.
The teams were tied at halftime and Galt trailed by just four points at half-time when a Dela Cruz basket brought the Warriors within 33-29.
The Warriors were within two points of Lincoln as late as the beginning of the fourth quarter.
A shot by Galt’s Sam Grone made it a 33-31 game in favor of Lincoln, but Galt was not able to quite catch up to Lincoln.
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