The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Continue road trip this weekend
With two key starters out, the rest of the Lady Titans team had to pick up the slack in their opening league game against Cripple Creek on Saturday, January 15.
And for the most part they did, led by senior Karleigh Dean. Dean was moved into a new position and delivered, scoring 10 points to help lead the Lady Titans to a 43-33 win, improving their record to 6-2, 1-0 in league play.
“Karleigh really stepped up in the post,” says Hamilton.
Speed was the secret to the Lady Titans success, especially through the opening quarter, as Crested Butte continued to push the pace up court and find open players for easy baskets.
Sophomore Maddie Stichter was relentless, pushing the ball and getting the Lady Titans looks inside before the Cripple Creek defense could even set up.
“We were faster and scored some buckets because of our team speed,” says coach Brandin Hamilton. “We had good transitions early and set a quick pace to score some points.”
By halftime the Lady Titans were sitting on a 28-14 lead and destined for a blowout win but complacency got the best of them throughout the next two quarters.
“They seemed to settle in and were satisfied with their lead,” says Hamilton. “We threatened to blow them out but would then let them back in the game.”
While Hamilton admits his team’s defense was a little suspect, both Dean and junior Toni Brown traded off shutting down Cripple Creek’s leading scorer to help hold the Lady Titans lead.
Cripple Creek made a couple runs at the Lady Titans in the second half but Crested Butte turned it on each time to quash every comeback attempt.
“Every time the lead got below 10 points they would pick it up again and rebuild the 14-point lead,” says Hamilton.
The Lady Titans will have their hands full this weekend as they head to Sanford on Friday, January 22 and Center on Saturday, January 23.
Sanford is the early season favorite to win the Southern Peaks league and the Lady Titans will still be missing two starters for the weekend match ups.
Crested Butte beat Center earlier this year but, again, will be without two players and Hamilton will be calling on players to step up once again.
“It will be interesting,” says Hamilton. “This week all we’re going to do is run and I’ll go through each position and their roles.”
The Lady Titans return to Mt. Olympus on Friday, January 28 to host Del Norte.
