The Gresham Community High School girls basketball team is in the W column for the first time since the 2012-13 season after taking down nonconference foe White Lake 43-40 in the season opener Thursday in Gresham.
The Wildcats started slowly against White Lake, but soon got its offense going, and rallied to a lead in the second half before holding on to get the win.
“It’s good, obviously, to get the first win of the year in the first game,” Gresham coach Nick Yaeger said. “I still recognize that there is a lot of room for improvement. A lot of room. I don’t think our legs are there yet. We’re going to get better.”
After White Lake jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first quarter, sophomore Sydney Jensen sparked the Wildcats’ offense with a steal and a layup.
“I think there were a lot of girls that were nervous,” Yaeger said. “We have a senior who hasn’t played in two years, a lot of freshman. We got a significant contribution from two sophomores. It took a little bit.”
Gresham rallied to within 16-15 before White Lake regain its footing, taking a 21-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Early in the second half, a jumper by Gresham sophomore Makena Arndt tied the game at 21-21.
Arndt, who would lead Gresham with 12 points, put Gresham ahead 23-21 with 6:53 left in the second quarter.
“She’s a good shooter,” Yaeger said. “She’s always been a little shy about pulling the trigger. She did an excellent job. She shot when she was open. It was great.”
Later in the period, White Lake’s Danielle Peters tied the game at 25-25.
The two teams would tie again at 31-31 in the fourth quarter, before Gresham took control when senior Brianna Stehberger made a basket and a 3-pointer back-t0-back. Stehberger finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
“Brianna Stehberger had a phenomenal game fighting down low,” Yaeger said.
White Lake managed to pull to within 42-40 in the final minutes but missed several chances down the stretch.
Senior Nicole Creapeau was fouled with 11.8 seconds left and put Gresham ahead 43-40 at the free-throw line.
Jensen finished with 10 points. Freshman Kamille Davids played well, getting five points and seven rebounds before leaving the game with a leg injury.
Megan Schewe led White Lake with 13 points. Peters finished with 10 points and 19 rebounds.
White Lake 10 11 8 11 — 40
Gresham 2 15 14 12 — 43
White Lake (40)
Peters 5 0-3 10, Schewe 5 3-10 13, Greisnger 4 3-10 11, Clay 1 1-3 3, Kubaeki 1 1-2 3
Gresham (43)
Jensen 5 0-1 10, Arndt 6 0-0 12, Stehberger 5 0-0 11, Hoffman 1 0-0 2, Davids 2 1-3 5, Creapeau 1 1-2 3
Categories
