vs. Heights

The Stratford Girls Varsity Basketball Team was at Heights High School on Tuesday, November 5th. Seniors Kendall Davis (forward), Layla Lloyd, and Gretchen Loveless (forward), along with Sophomore guard Riley O'Connor and Freshman guard Ava Gibson started the game. The Spartans' first score came via O'Connor thanks to a Gibson steal. Head Coach Audrisa Harrison continued to substitute freely in game two. Senior forward Bella Perroni's smothering defense led to Sophomore forward Camille Warren's steal and score, and it was 7-4, Spartans. Senior guard Megan Hallmark's steal led to Warren converting a contested layup, and the first quarter ended at 11-4, Spartans.

This Spartan team might be a tad bit taller, on average, than prior teams. They definitely had a height advantage tonight. Heights HS had no height. The Spartans controlled the boards throughout the game. Warren had three quick offensive rebounds and scored four points off the effort. Senior guard Aria Taylor grabbed an offensive rebound and scored. Lloyd repeatedly drove hard to the basket, scoring twice in addition to assisting Loveless. It was 25-10 at the half.

Loveless is a relentless rebounder. In the opening minutes of the third quarter, she snared an offensive board and passed to O'Connor for a bucket. Loveless took a defensive rebound coast-to-coast to score. She corralled a loose ball, passed to Gibson, and received it back for a bucket. Finally, Loveless and Davis traded offensive rebounds on the same possession before Davis found the right spot and laid in the ball to make it 35-10. The ball movement was quite nice. Hallmark to Taylor for a three! Warren to Hallmark for a layup. Taylor to Perroni for a jumper. It was 49-15 to end the third quarter.

A new crop of scorers asserted themselves in the fourth. Junior Rylah Barnes turned an offensive rebound into a score. Senior Emerson Berg scored off the out-of-bounds pass from Lloyd. Lloyd to Berg to O'Connor for a three-pointer. Warren to Senior guard Katherine Cronin for another trey. Barnes to Warren for a jumper, and the final was 64-21.

Lloyd led in scoring with nine points. Taylor and Warren had eight apiece. O'Connor had seven. Davis had six. There were 36 team rebounds and 21 steals, with Davis, Lloyd, and O'Connor having three each.

TOURNAMENT IN LEANDER, TX

Later in the week, the Spartans traveled to a tournament in Leander, TX for games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

vs. Boerne

Stratford lost to a very good Boerne, 54-27, in game #1. The Spartans played tough in the first half, but ultimately struggled with the intensive defensive pressure brought by their opponent. O'Connor scored six points and had four steals. Warren had five points. Davis scored four and had six rebounds. Cronin had five rebounds.

Game Two

Three years ago to the date, Nov. 7, Davis played her first game in a Stratford uniform. She filled up the stat sheet on the Freshman Team that day. Two years ago, Davis began her significant contributions to the Varsity team. She had a stellar sophomore season. Last year as a Junior, Davis, intelligent and unflappable, was a fixture in the lineup and toiled in the trenches. In game #2 on Thursday Davis showed what's she's capable of, with 18 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. The Spartans put together their most complete game, winning 47-44. O'Connor had eight points and seven steals. Warren had six points and seven rebounds. Taylor had five rebounds.

vs. Round Rock

Stratford lost to a good Round Rock team 35-49. The Spartans were as close as three points behind in the second half, but the opposition converted free throws and kept Stratford at bay. Davis led with ten points. O'Connor had seven points. Gibson had five points.

Stratford fell to Copperas Cove 35-40 in game #4. Warren led with seven points. Sophomore forward Sophia Prejean had five points and  12 rebounds. O'Connor had five points and four steals.

vs. Taylor

Stratford lost to Taylor, 48-57 in the final tournament game. The Spartans had a late lead, but the scourge of turnovers upended the effort. Davis led with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals. Lloyd had eight points. Loveless had six points and four assists. Taylor had six points and five rebounds. O'Connor had five points and five steals.

The Spartans have terrific athletes, but will play without a true point guard until Senior Rachel Ashby completes the Spartans' outstanding volleyball season. Varsity Basketball's record is 2-5. They play at Westfield on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.