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| Patterson defense shines in back-to-back wins |
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| Written by Mike Vanden Bosch / Patterson Irrigator | |
| Saturday, 15 December 2007 | |
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For all the offensive weapons the Patterson High girls basketball team has to pick from, the team’s defense packs the biggest punch. While Patterson’s offense was clicking on several fronts, the Tigers’ defense held its own in double-digit victories over Central Valley and East Union on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Tigers parlayed a stingy defense and seven 3-pointers in the second half to beat Central Valley, 47-27, on the road. they made it two wins in a row by wearing down East Union in a 41-27 home win. “We’ve been working really hard in practice on our defense,” Patterson guard-forward Cassie Coble said Wednesday. “That’s what our team is: our defense and fast breaks. Coach (Jason McCleery) told us who to shut down, who to back off of, and who to pressure.” Patterson (4-2) held Central Valley to 12 points at halftime before upping its lead to double digits in the second half. Brooke Borba sparked the Tigers with four of the team’s seven 3-pointers, finishing with a game-high 14 points. “We know Brooke can heat up,” coach McCleery said. “She missed her first couple shots. We took her out, and once she got back in there, she just lit it up. “That’s something we have to expect. I think a lot of teams will play us in a zone (defense), so we have to knock down those shots.” Despite a slow first quarter against East Union, Patterson outscored the Lancers, 18-6, in the second quarter en route to a 21-11 halftime lead, which the Tigers never relinquished. Forward Samantha Kramer, a 5-foot-10 junior, converted several layup opportunities near the basket for six of her eight points in the second quarter.  Michelle Bancroft is fouled and sent to the line by East Union's Stephanie Swift. Photo by Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator “Sam’s playing really well right now,” McCleery said. “Everybody knows that if we can just get the ball up there, there won’t be many girls that will knock the ball away from her. She does an excellent job finishing around the rim. She’s been a pleasant surprise.” Patterson held East Union scoreless for the final two minutes of the second quarter and all of the third quarter. Lancers coach Jim Agostini chalked it up to Patterson’s style of play and his tired players. “Patterson looked good,” Agostini said. “They were the better team tonight. This was our ninth game in 14 days. We stopped hitting shots, and when you do that, that’s tired legs. It’s a rough stretch for us right now. We’re just trying to weather the storm.” Just as defense spearheaded Patterson’s wins, the Tigers’ lack of defense haunted them in a 69-49 loss to Kennedy of Sacramento in the opening round of the Lodi Christmas Tournament on Thursday. Cassie Coble’s team-high 19 points paced the Tigers, who hung tough with Kennedy before the Cougars pulled away for a 36-25 halftime lead. It didn’t get any easier in the second half, as Kennedy outscored Patterson, 33-24. “We had one of our better offensive games,” McCleery said. “Forty-nine points is the most we’ve scored. We couldn’t slow them down. Kennedy was knocking down shot after shot after shot. They had a very good perimeter game. They hit everything from outside.” While Patterson sought to overcome Kennedy’s seven 3-pointers, the Tigers suffered from the sporadic absence of point guard Shavon Furrow because of a sprained ankle. Furrow finished with five points and five assists in limited action. “Shavon injured it against East Union,” McCleery said. “She was playing on a sprained ankle, and it was hurting pretty good.” Borba added six points and four assists in the loss. Junior varsity Patterson’s junior varsity endured a rough week with losses to Central Valley and East Union. Central Valley used a 34-point first half to defeat Patterson, 50-33, while East Union had its way in a 49-22 win. “We knew coming in that we would have a hard time against East Union,” Patterson coach Terry Coble said. “The score was pretty similar last year with East Union. We just couldn’t get shots off." Kianna Weinzheimer had 15 points to lead Patterson (0-3) against Central Valley. Amber Bond poured in six points in the losing effort against East Union. “I see improvement,” Coble said. “I was proud of the way we started handling East Union’s press. We held them to 12 second-half points by changing our defense up.” After wrapping up the three-day Lodi Christmas Tournament today, Patterson will host Linden on Tuesday. The varsity team will tip off at 7:30 p.m. To reach Play Editor Mike Vanden Bosch at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at mike@ pattersonirrigator.com
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