CB Titan girls’ basketball hit buzzsaw against Sanford team

“Two of the toughest we’re gonna play all year…”

By Than Acuff 

The Sanford Mustangs have always been one of the toughest opponents the Crested Butte Titans girls’ basketball team face each year and Friday, December 6 was no different at the Titans fell 73-9 to the Mustangs.

It was going to be a tough game, made tougher as the Titans were missing point guard Calla Fenlon leaving Molly Miller to take over that role in addition to her typical role as the team’s most productive scorer. In addition, freshman Ella Davis was called into varsity action from the opening tipoff.

“I was very proud with how she stepped up,” says coach Anna Bressnick.

While the Titans scoring was limited throughout the first quarter, their team defense was solid as they left little for Sanford to work with and crashed the boards to deny the Mustangs second chances. So much so that when Miller scored a turnaround jumper in the paint, the Titans were down just 6-2 midway through the first quarter.

“We came out and looked good,” says Bressnick. “We were executing our defense near flawlessly.”

Yet once the Mustangs went into their press following a timeout, fatigue and inexperience started to show among the Titans as Sanford finished the first quarter with an 11-0 run for a 17-2 lead.

Miller did break free for a lay up off a turnover caused by Grace Bogard and Lola Wright battled for an offensive rebound and basket in the second quarter, but the Mustangs kept on running to take a 35-6 lead into halftime.

“I’m just highly impressed with Lola’s intensity and effort, she has really stepped up,” says Bressnick. “And Grace has grown a lot, looking to shoot and score and become a more complete basketball player. Sanford just locked down on us and part of it is on me to be a better coach and adjust to things better.”

Miller did tack on three more points for the Titans in the third quarter, but Sanford was relentless in their effort until the end as they pushed to the 73-9 win.

“I think they were a little mad after they lost to Salida, so I think they were a little salty when they came to our house,” says Bressnick.

While the Titans lost their first two games by a significant margin, Bressnick sees no reason to panic and remains focused on the positive steps her team took in the first games of the year.

“We played probably two of the toughest teams we’re gonna play all year and we now have a better idea of our strengths and weaknesses,” says Bressnick. “The way we came out against Sanford shows what team we can be, I know it’s there. The goal is to start every game that way, play that way and finish the game that way.”

The Titans head to Grand Junction Friday and Saturday, December 13-14 for games against Soroco and Vail Christian and, with a full week of practice to prepare, Bressnick looks forward to the next two challenges.

“We got a whole week of practice to work on things,” says Bressnick. “Our goal this weekend is to continue working on executing our stuff and get into a flow as a team and build some chemistry.”

The Titans return home to host Ignacio on Tuesday, December 17 at 5:30 p.m.