The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Look to regroup over holidays
The Crested Butte Lady Titans basketball team put their mental and physical toughness to the test last weekend at a tournament in Alamosa, coming out of it bruised and beaten, but not broken.
You know it’s going to be a long weekend when you’re headed into a tournament that includes the defending 2A state champion and two 3A teams.
Throw in the fact that you’re missing a starting senior and you lose your starting junior point guard in the first game, and things can get really grim.
“Needless to say it was a rough weekend but we knew that going in,” says Lady Titans coach MaryMike Haley.
Things started out okay in their first game on Thursday, December 15 against 3A San Luis Valley squad Alamosa.
The Lady Titans showed signs of life, holding Alamosa in check to finish the first quarter down by just five points. By the end of the first half, the Lady Titans remained in striking distance going into the locker room, behind 25-13.
“In the first quarter we had all sorts of life and played well,” says Haley. “At that point I was thinking, we’re holding our own.”
That’s when the first set of wheels started to fall off. Point guard Maddie Stichter started feeling sick at halftime. What was initially thought to be the result of a pre-game milkshake soon turned into a concussion that she suffered when elbowed earlier in the game.
“I lost my point guard for the rest of the weekend,” says Haley.
The experience of Alamosa eventually exploited the youth of the Lady Titans, and Alamosa outscored Crested Butte 29-8 in the second half to hand the Lady Titans a 54-21 loss.
Sophomore Shannon Costello led the Lady Titans with eight points, followed by sophomores Monika Olesen and Suzanna Dumas with four points each.
The Lady Titans ran into a brick wall on Friday against Buena Vista.
Once again things looked under control after the first quarter of play with Crested Butte down eight points to the 3A team.
But inexperience among the Lady Titans started to show again and without Stichter on the floor to run the offense, things fell apart as Crested Butte lost 71-13.
“We just couldn’t get it together because we didn’t have a point guard,” says Haley.
After two games against 3A schools, the Lady Titans finished the weekend against 2A Sanford. While it would be the first time they would face a school of similar size, Sanford would prove to be the best team at the tournament. Not only did they win the tournament but they are also the defending 2A state champions.
Senior Toni Brown led the Lady Titans, scoring seven points but Sanford proved too strong to stay close to as Crested Butte lost 49-16.
Despite going winless all weekend, Haley was proud of her team’s resilience, especially her seniors.
“Toni and Natalie [Bowen] didn’t have a ton of points but they stayed out there and battled,” says Haley. “They stuck it out and really stepped up and showed a lot of leadership.”
Furthermore, Haley continued to get solid minutes from her bench who, while still getting used to the pace of high school varsity basketball, never gave up no matter what the score.
“The girls coming off the bench had great energy,” says Haley. “They see what’s happening to their team and want to help out, so they really come into the game pumped.”
The Lady Titans have a break for the holidays and return to action next year when they host Del Norte in mighty Mt. Olympus on Thursday, January 5, Tip-off is at 4 p.m.
