Wolfpack rout Bulldogs
The host Ida Baker Bulldogs had way too many empty offensive trips to keep pace with the South Fort Myers Wolfpack in a 58-21 loss Friday night in girls’ basketball.
Though the Bulldogs made just 5-of-37 (14 percent) from the field, it wasn’t the shooting woes that bothered first-year coach Ashley Underhill as much as their reluctance to fight for second-chance opportunities.
The Bulldogs (2-5) grabbed two offensive rebounds while the Wolfpack (4-2) often had two or three tries before scoring on their offensive end.
“We’re just getting pushed around underneath,” Underhill said. “Our big girls aren’t rebounding and they’re not boxing out. If we can get that underneath game going we’ll be okay.”
The two programs finished last season on opposite paths with South winning 26 games and advancing to the Class 4A state final four, while Baker finished with a 7-17 mark.
Friday’s game served as a learning experience all around for the Bulldogs against a stronger team. South jumped ahead 15-2 in the first quarter and never looked back.
A positive for the Bulldogs came before the varsity game when the JV squad rallied for a 22-18 win, after falling behind 16-3. The Bulldogs did not have a JV program last year, which had obvious repercussions in terms of experience on the varsity level.
Their youth on the varsity team includes two freshmen – Hannah Del Negro and Ali Nicloy – in the starting lineup.
“It’s good for the up-and-coming years, but it hurts this year,” Underhill said of the lack of experience. “They’re playing hard. We just have to break some old habits.”
In the opening quarter, the Bulldogs turned it over eight times, which prevented them from getting off many shots. They made just one of their first eight field goal attempts when Cheyanne Ross scored off an assist from Alicia Emmons.
South also started slowly, but sophomore Mallory Motycka sparked the attack with good passing from the high post. She fed Courtney Snowden three times for baskets. Snowden scored 11 of her game-high 15 in the first period.
The Bulldogs’ best run came toward the end of the first half when they picked up their defensive pressure and outscored the Wolfpack 7-4.
Jackie Sanchez came up with a steal and buried a three-pointer, and Nicloy tallied two steals and three free throws. South still led 32-11 at the break.
The Wolfpack continued to be more consistent in the third quarter. Motycka finished with only four points, but made a strong imprint on both ends of the floor, including two steals and three blocks in the third. Liana Talford added 12 points.
Baker’s Shanelly Brown sank a three and scored all six of her points in the third, and Miko Dougherty had two steals.
After one steal, Dougherty sent a lead pass ahead to Emmons for a layup.
The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday when they visit Riverdale.
South FM 15 17 13 13 – 58
Ida Baker 2 9 10 10 – 21
South FM (58) – Courtney Snowden 15, Le Aira Talford 6, Liana Talford 12, Megan Lovell 6, Mallory Motycka 4, Bryana Nylander 6, Iesha Faust 5, Chasidy Pitts 4. Totals: 20-56 18-26 58.
3-point goals: Lovell 2.
Ida Baker (21) – Cheyanne Ross 3, Ali Nicloy 3, Jackie Sanchez 3, Sarah West 2, Shanelly Brown 6, Alicia Emmons 2, Miko Dougherty 1. Totals: 5-37 10-17 21.
3-point goals: Sanchez 1, Brown 1.