Girls basketball falls to Sargent Farmers powerhouse team

“There will come a day when it’s our day”

Defense is the linchpin of any quality high school basketball program and that’s exactly where coach Mike Moran is focusing his efforts as he prepares the team for success in the future.
On Friday, January 30 the Titans defense got yet another test of any improvements they’ve made over the course of the season as they headed to Sargent to face the 2A state powerhouse Farmers. In the end, the Titans did okay against Sargent, defensively speaking, falling 48-9.
The Titans offense is another story. With such a young crew there is a lot to work on, from taking care of the basketball with sound fundamentals, to running plays on offense and eventually shooting. But all in good time.
As for now, it’s all about the defense.
“We played great defense against a great team,” says Moran.
Sargent held the Titans scoreless throughout the first half of the game as the Framers defensive intensity continued to handcuff Crested Butte up and down the court.
If and when the Titans did manage to get set up in their half court offense, the Sargent players were just too quick to allow any seams to the hoop.
“We still can’t handle the ball under pressure,” says Moran. “We were unable to get into our offense most of the time and when we did, we just couldn’t separate ourselves from them to get open.”
As is often the case with the Titans girls’ team, they were down a considerable amount by halftime but, as has been the case all year with this determined team, they kept on fighting.
They finally broke the seal on the basket in the third quarter when Erika Bremer banked a shot off the glass from deep but the Farmers kept pushing the pace to carry a 41-2 lead into the fourth quarter.
“Sargent is a tough team and they don’t let up all game,” says Moran.
The Farmers eased off the throttle a little in the fourth quarter and Moran continued with his plan of getting kids time, no matter what the score. The Titans rallied to put together their best effort in the fourth quarter, scoring seven points set up by key passes from Courtney Kopf while holding Sargent to seven points, finishing the game on a high note.
“I was really, really proud of their effort,” says Moran.
The Titans will return to the road this weekend to play the Custer County Bobcats on Saturday, February 7. This will be another tough game as Custer County is on a roll, having knocked off a couple of teams that have recorded big wins over the Titans. Nevertheless, Moran and his team will keep working on things in preparation for the next few years.
“We will try to press more and see if we can’t get some baskets off turnovers,” explains Moran. “Try to open it up a little bit. There will come a day when it’s our day.”