The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“I was happy with my team”
Despite having not played a game in five weeks, the Crested Butte Titans girls’ basketball team put up a stout fight in their first league game of the season, eventually falling to the Sargent Farmers 47-39 on Saturday, January 12.
Senior Maddie Stichter led the Titans through the first quarter, putting up all six points as the Titans held the Farmers in check for an impressive start to the game.
“We were rocking it,” says coach MaryMike Haley. “Our defense was really frustrating them. We came out ready to play.”
The Farmers looked to break the Titans down in the second quarter, throwing a full court press at them but Crested Butte proceeded to shred the full court pressure to set up Elizabeth Kilpatrick and senior Elisabeth Desmarais for easy baskets underneath.
Sargent responded to hold onto a slim two-point lead before the Titans went on an 8-3 scoring run.
Desmarais scored off an inbounds, Stichter battled through the Farmers’ defense to pull up and drain a 14-foot jumper, and effort on the offensive boards by the Titans resulted in another basket and a 20-17 Titans lead at halftime.
Then the third quarter hit, like a brick wall. The third quarter has troubled the Titans this season and it did so again on Saturday.
Junior Monika Olesen scored the opening basket of the third quarter but the Farmer defense forced the Titans into several turnovers giving up easy baskets to Sargent.
The Farmers outscored the Titans 19-9 in the third quarter, with junior Shannon Costello scoring seven of the Titans’ nine points, to build a 36-29 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Sargent drained a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter and despite the efforts of the Titans, they could never undo the damage done in the third quarter, falling to the Farmers 47-39.
“That third quarter just killed us,” says Haley. “I think I just should not take them in the locker room at halftime.”
Haley points out that one major undoing for the Titans came at the free throw line.
“Our free throw shooting killed us,” explains Haley.
Costello finished the game leading the team with 13 points with Stichter and Desmarais adding in eight points each.
“For not having played a game in five weeks, they did an amazing job,” adds Haley. “I was happy with my team. I’ve got to figure out how to get them jazzed for the third quarter.”
The Titans hit the road for two more league games on Friday and Saturday, January 18-19, including a rematch with Sargent.
“We’ll fine tune some things this week and I think we’ll be solid,” says Haley.
