The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“I like the way it’s coming together”
It’s tough to win a basketball game when you commit 20 turnovers, shoot 20 percent from the floor and miss nine free throws. In fact, that’s a recipe for a blowout. But in true Lady Titans fashion, they still managed to give the Center Vikings a run for their money before eventually falling 35-31 on Friday, January 17.
Crested Butte had a tough start to the game with the Vikings dictating the pace and physical play through the first half. While the Lady Titans defense forced a handful of turnovers for breakaway baskets, Center would march right back down the court and set up their half court offense centered primarily on their post player, who is a force to be reckoned with.
“I knew she was going to be tough,” says Lady Titans coach Mike Moran. “She was just too strong on the inside.”
In addition, Center just seemed to have an extra step on the Lady Titans all half long, both on offense and defense. Crested Butte kept plugging away and managed to pull within two points in the second quarter when Suzanna Dumas dropped in a four-footer inside and Ali McGuire drained a jumper from outside, but Center finished the half off scoring the final five points to take a 17-11 lead going into halftime.
“We just weren’t playing hard enough,” says Moran. “Their 1-3-1 defense gave us some trouble but we talked about that and I told them to go out there and play with pride and they did.”
The two teams traded off baskets to open the third quarter with McGuire rattling off six points in a row to keep the lady Titans in contention. Elizabeth Kilpatrick knocked down a couple of free throws and Madeline Pulley battled hard on the boards to pull the Lady Titans to within two points.
The Vikings responded with an offensive rebound and a bucket, but Crested Butte took over the game in the final minute of the third quarter, led by pure hustle. Monika Olesen chased down a loose ball to set up Shannon Costello for an easy two and then total team hustle on the offensive boards led to an eight-foot jumper from Dumas to tie the game 24-24 in the final seconds of the third quarter.
“The difference in the third quarter was our heart and determination,” says Moran.
Crested Butte kept the needle pinned in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter as rebounds by Pulley and baskets from Olesen and Kilpatrick put the Lady Titans on top for the first time all game. But their shooting woes also continued as Crested Butte had several chances to pull away but missed shots, spelling their eventual demise. Meanwhile, Center returned to the star post player to carry them and she came through with a big three-point play with two minutes remaining.
“That play really broke our back,” says Moran.
While the Lady Titans continued to push the pace, their efforts never panned out in points, and Center held on down the stretch for the 35-31 win.
McGuire led the Lady Titans in scoring with 10 points and Olesen and Dumas combined for 16 boards with each player pulling down eight.
“They were a good team and played us tough but I expected us to play better,” says Moran. “We had a really tough night shooting.”
Despite the disappointing loss, the Lady Titans are on the cusp of a breakthrough with both Olesen and Kilpatrick back to full strength, giving Moran a full squad to work with for the first time all season.
“I like the way it’s coming together,” says Moran. “They are determined, that’s one thing I can really count on. They always come to play and you can see the team developing a little bit at a time.”
The Lady Titans will get their biggest test of the season thus far this Friday, January 24 when they host Sanford in mighty Mt. Olympus.
“We need to make a stand Friday night,” says Moran.
Crested Butte remains at home on Saturday, January 25 to host Cripple Creek.
Tip off Friday will be at 5 p.m. on Friday and at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
