Sports Update
Bent, not broken: Lady Wolves hang on despite Flower Mound rally
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
FLOWER MOUND -- The Flower Mound girls basketball team appears incapable of beating blown out.
That didn't bode well for any gaudy advantage enjoyed Friday night by Plano West (19-1), which despite having all the momentum in the fourth quarter still had to sweat out a 63-57 victory.
"I guess we're glad to get this win," said Don Patterson, West head coach. "We just have to start playing a little bit better and a little bit smarter."
Yet to lose a game by more than two possessions this season, that formula stayed intact for Flower Mound, despite staring at a 49-34 deficit just over one minute into the fourth. The Lady Jaguars proceeded to put West on its heels by erupting for 25 points in fourth frame, trimming the Lady Wolves' advantage to 55-50 with 2:43 remaining.
"These kids don't give up," said Sherika Nelson, Flower Mound head coach. "Every possession's valuable but they just keep fighting. We got on a run and got some confidence, which goes a long way, but no matter how far behind they get, they'll continue to fight."
Senior Meredith Mihalick scored all 10 of her points during the rally, including the free throws that drew Flower Mound within five.
West stayed the course by converting a 3-ball from senior Devri Owens -- her sixth of the night to go along with 23 points and three steals -- with 90 seconds left and relied on timely free throws from senior Grace Horn and junior Tyara Warren-Cox to fend off the Lady Jaguars, 63-57.
"We weren't confident in what we were doing offensively," Patterson said, "and defensively we're not doing what we're supposed to be doing down there. You have to give credit to Flower Mound."
The Lady Jaguars' rally seemed improbable given the jolt the Lady Wolves received midway through the third during a heated exchange following an offensive foul called on Flower Mound sophomore Courtney Fields.
The Lady Wolves led at the time, 35-26, and by quarter's end that advantage swelled to 47-32.
West clamped down on the defensive end, primarily Horn, who recorded five steals in the third alone. Two of those takeaways were direct strips from the guard which resulted in layups on the other end, including a bucket with less than 10 seconds left in the quarter.
"This bunch is a group of winners," Patterson said. "They find ways to win, even when things are going bad. They'll hit a big shot or get a steal to get us going, but sometimes that'll get us comfortable and when that happens we don't keep doing it.
"We need to work on keeping our intensity up."
That added intensity reached a boiling point on both sides thanks to a mini Flower Mound rally to open the second half after seven unanswered points by freshman Lauren Cox closed the gap to 32-26. Cox's 6-foot-3 frame wreaked havoc on the Lady Wolves all night to the tune of 21 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks.
"[Cox] is a big-time player and changes things so much on the defensive end," Nelson said. "Offensively, she opens things on the outside for us. It's going to be fun to watch her grow over the next four years."
All that considering Cox was blanked in a first quarter that saw the Lady Jaguars outscored, 14-4.
The Lady Wolves forced 10 of their 25 turnovers in that first and coupled those takeaways with a sizzling 3-ball from Owens and senior Allison Staley, who dropped four treys for 14 points, to pace a 32-19 advantage by halftime.
West returns to action Friday when it travels to Prestonwood Christian Academy at 6 p.m. while Flower Mound travels to Plano Senior for a 3:30 p.m. tip.
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.
That didn't bode well for any gaudy advantage enjoyed Friday night by Plano West (19-1), which despite having all the momentum in the fourth quarter still had to sweat out a 63-57 victory.
"I guess we're glad to get this win," said Don Patterson, West head coach. "We just have to start playing a little bit better and a little bit smarter."
Yet to lose a game by more than two possessions this season, that formula stayed intact for Flower Mound, despite staring at a 49-34 deficit just over one minute into the fourth. The Lady Jaguars proceeded to put West on its heels by erupting for 25 points in fourth frame, trimming the Lady Wolves' advantage to 55-50 with 2:43 remaining.
"These kids don't give up," said Sherika Nelson, Flower Mound head coach. "Every possession's valuable but they just keep fighting. We got on a run and got some confidence, which goes a long way, but no matter how far behind they get, they'll continue to fight."
Senior Meredith Mihalick scored all 10 of her points during the rally, including the free throws that drew Flower Mound within five.
West stayed the course by converting a 3-ball from senior Devri Owens -- her sixth of the night to go along with 23 points and three steals -- with 90 seconds left and relied on timely free throws from senior Grace Horn and junior Tyara Warren-Cox to fend off the Lady Jaguars, 63-57.
"We weren't confident in what we were doing offensively," Patterson said, "and defensively we're not doing what we're supposed to be doing down there. You have to give credit to Flower Mound."
The Lady Jaguars' rally seemed improbable given the jolt the Lady Wolves received midway through the third during a heated exchange following an offensive foul called on Flower Mound sophomore Courtney Fields.
The Lady Wolves led at the time, 35-26, and by quarter's end that advantage swelled to 47-32.
West clamped down on the defensive end, primarily Horn, who recorded five steals in the third alone. Two of those takeaways were direct strips from the guard which resulted in layups on the other end, including a bucket with less than 10 seconds left in the quarter.
"This bunch is a group of winners," Patterson said. "They find ways to win, even when things are going bad. They'll hit a big shot or get a steal to get us going, but sometimes that'll get us comfortable and when that happens we don't keep doing it.
"We need to work on keeping our intensity up."
That added intensity reached a boiling point on both sides thanks to a mini Flower Mound rally to open the second half after seven unanswered points by freshman Lauren Cox closed the gap to 32-26. Cox's 6-foot-3 frame wreaked havoc on the Lady Wolves all night to the tune of 21 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks.
"[Cox] is a big-time player and changes things so much on the defensive end," Nelson said. "Offensively, she opens things on the outside for us. It's going to be fun to watch her grow over the next four years."
All that considering Cox was blanked in a first quarter that saw the Lady Jaguars outscored, 14-4.
The Lady Wolves forced 10 of their 25 turnovers in that first and coupled those takeaways with a sizzling 3-ball from Owens and senior Allison Staley, who dropped four treys for 14 points, to pace a 32-19 advantage by halftime.
West returns to action Friday when it travels to Prestonwood Christian Academy at 6 p.m. while Flower Mound travels to Plano Senior for a 3:30 p.m. tip.
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.
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