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Newberg wrestling: Best in the West
St. Paul improves but cannot manage a win
Bruins squash Hornets to win tourney title
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Warriors outlast Bucks in fourth quarter |
Amity outscores St. Paul 12-9 in the final quarter
to hand the Bucks second-place Thursday |
By B. Scott Anderson, Newberg
Graphic sports editor
E-mail Scott at banderson@eaglenewspapers.com
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The St. Paul High School girls
basketball team’s comeback attempt fell short Dec. 23.
The Bucks (7-3 overall) pulled within a point in the fourth
quarter, but fell 37-30 to Amity in the finals of the Amity Holiday
Invitational.
With no time left on the clock at the end of the third quarter, St.
Paul’s Kimmie Ernst hit one of two free throws to pull the Bucks
within 25-21 to start the fourth quarter. Early in the fourth,
Ernst’s steal and layin, coupled with a free throw, capped a
four-point run by Ernst to bring the Bucks within 25-24 with 5:33
remaining in the game.
The Warriors, however, bounced back. While St. Paul’s offense
struggled, Amity hit four of six free throws in the final minute to
post the win.
St. Paul also had to deal with the fact that Jordan Murphy, who had
scored 20 points in a win over Corbett the day before, played with
the flu. She also played less than half of the final quarter in the
Amity game due to foul trouble.
“I thought we did pretty well considering our best player was not
really a factor,” St. Paul coach Mike Murphy said. “She played more
than she probably should have. She was pretty sick, but she wanted
to stay out there.”
Murphy was happy with how his reserve players responded in the
loss.
“The younger kids came in there in the first half – Brittani Brown,
Dani Davidson, Alex Barrera – came in and did a great job,” he said.
“They kept us in the game."
St. Paul was in control of the game for much of the first half,
despite holding a slim 16-15 halftime lead. In the second half,
Jenna Schneider hit a three-pointer with 6:12 remaining to give the
Bucks a 19-15 lead beforew Amity closed the third quarter out on a
10-2 run in the final six minutes.
“In the second half, we were right there,” Murphy said. “The kids
battled all the way down the stretch.
“I’m always disappointed to lose but I wasn’t disappointed in the
effort. It showed some things that we have to improve on and that’s
what these games are for.”
Murphy said once the Bucks tweak a few minor glitches, St. Paul
will be a force.
“We need to get a little bit better on the offensive end,” Murphy
said. “When we start taking better care of the ball and making
better decisions with the ball, we’re going to be fine. Defensively,
we played well.” |
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From
Dec. 29,
2004, Newberg Graphic
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