Sanderson girls basketball
According to Sanderson head coach Marcus Davis, sophomore guard Dashawna Smith (10) is stepping up as a leader for the Lady Spartans.
Lady Spartans' second-half surge unravels Catamounts
After watching the Sanderson girls basketball team sleepwalk through a sluggish second quarter at Panther Creek Monday — the Lady Spartans netted only one bucket and made just two of eight free-throw attempts in the period — sophomore Dashawna Smith essentially took control of the locker room.
"Some of our girls didn't know what we were running, so Dashawna took the pen and went to the white board and showed them," recalled head coach Marcus Davis. "I was pretty quiet during the break. And I loved it. We had people finally stepping up to become vocal leaders, not just on the floor but in the locker room."
Smith's instructions — as well as the Sanderson's full-court press — ignited a 13-0 run to start the second half, capped by Courtney Trumps' three-pointer with 2:35 remaining in the third.
And the roll erased Panther Creek's one-point halftime advantage as the Lady Spartans cruised to a 42-31 victory.
Following Sanderson's win — it was the Lady Spartans' first game at the Challenge at Panther Creek holiday tournament — Davis lauded his squad's maturation.
Click here to see highlights of the Sanderson/Panther Creek girls basketball game.
"We are finally starting to find leadership on this team," he said, adding senior Ashley Davis and Smith were the primarily trendsetters. "It is important that we have that leadership. And Dashawna is only a sophomore, and I'm looking forward to her doing that for a few more years."
Without having a full team at practice the past few days, Coach Davis wasn't surprised the Lady Spartans had a letdown in the first half.
After charging out to a 12-7 lead on Smith's trey in the first quarter, the Catamounts outscored Sanderson 11-5 in the final 10 minutes of the first half.
The Lady Spartans also struggled mightily from the line in the game's first 16 minutes, converting just five of 14 attempts. (They finished the game just nine for 21.)
But Sanderson's fortunes changed after the break as freshman Derricka Lewis added three quick buckets in the first three minutes of the third quarter and Smith and Davis added one apiece.
By the time Trumps hit her three — putting Sanderson up 12 points — the Lady Spartans had seized control and never looked back.
Sanderson forward Australia Crowell (30) pulled down nine rebounds Monday night.
While the Sanderson offense was firing on all cylinders, it was the defense paving the way.
The Catamounts floundered against the Lady Spartan press, with Lewis causing chaos at the top of the zone, and Smith and Trumps effectively swooping in for steals.
"When we started pressuring the ball, it definitely got us going," Davis said. "It gave us a spark and helped us get a few easy buckets."
The Lady Spartans twice pushed their advantage to 15 points in the fourth quarter before the Catamounts closed within 11 to end the game.
Lewis finished with a game-high 17 points, including 11 in the second half. Smith, Erica Brownlow and Australia Crowell each added five, and Trumps and Briante Chambers had four apiece.
Although the Lady Spartans were missing Donjernica Jones, one of their leading rebounders, due to illness, the squad hit the glass hard as Crowell pulled down nine rebounds and Lewis grabbed six.
With two games remaining in the holiday tournament, Sanderson plays Green Hope today (Tuesday) at 7:30 p.m., and Riverside Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 4:30 p.m.
