HUMBOLDT — While both teams’ defenses had their moments Thursday evening, Humboldt High’s defense was particularly stifling from start to finish. Crest (8-8-3-11—30)
“Our defense would stop them on 10 straight possessions, then we’d give up points on 10 straight possessions,” Crest High Lady Lancers coach Ben Vaughn said.
The Humboldt girls pushed together several key runs to grab their first win of the season, 55-30.
The victory came in the second round of Humboldt’s preseason tournament.
Both teams also played Friday, but results were not immediately available by press time.
“I was very proud of our defense,” Lady Cub head coach Sherri Nelson said. “We got the players where they needed to be.”
Whitney Strack played the pivotal role in a second-quarter flurry that turned a 10-8 lead into a 25-16 advantage at halftime. Strack provided several steals and drives to the basket that resulted in several free throw attempts.
When Strack wasn’t making noise, Sheri Middleton was at times dominating the middle by swatting away field goal attempts inside or altering passes across the lane. Middleton scored four in the quarter. Megan Hudlin drained a pivotal 3-pointer as well.
The Lady Cub defense clamped down in the third period as Humboldt put the game out of reach with a 13-3 run.
Bre Kline took over the scoring duties in the second half, scoring 13 of her game-high 15 points in the third and fourth quarters. Strack chipped in with 10 points and three steals, although Nelson said she had a hand in several other deflections that wound up as steals for teammates.
Middleton followed with eight points, six rebounds and four blocks. Kline and Delaney Umholtz also had three steals.
Brytton Strickler, Kurston Gilliland and Madison Kellar each scored seven points to lead Crest. Madison Covey added six.
Humboldt resumes play at home Tuesday against Yates Center. Crest heads to Pleasanton Tuesday.
Humboldt (10-15-13-17—55)
Crest (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Covey 2-2-4-6, Strickler 2-3-1-7, Sherman 0-0-1-0, Gilliland 3-1-4-7, LaCross 1-0-5-2, Seabolt 0-1-4-1, Kellar 1/1-2-4-7, Sedlak 0-0-2-0. TOTALS: 9/1-9-25-30.
Humboldt (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Kline 4/1-4-4-15, Middleton 3-2-2-8, Maxton 0-1-4-1, Riebel 1-0-1-2, Hudlin 1/1-0-4-5, English 0-0-1-0, Beeman 0/1-0-0-3, Strack 4-2-2-10, Wilson 0/1-0-2-4, Menzie 2-0-2-4, Umholtz 0-0-1-0, Morris 1-1-3-3. TOTALS: 16/4-11-26-55.
Lady Cubs down Crest
