Seattle Christian opened up the court with offensive rebounding and defense in the second quarter en route to a 45-23 girls' basketball defeat of visiting Life Christian Academy in the first half of a boys' and girls' Nisqually 1A league basketball doubleheader on Friday, January 6.
With the win, SCS held on to first place in league at 4-0 and evened its overall record to 6-6. LCA now stands at 1-2 and 3-5 respectively,
"It was Jessica Johnson with her offensive rebounding," said Warrior head coach Dave Jansen. "Our girls stepped it up on defense and and shut them down."
Key architects of the SCS surges were Johnson and Catie Shelton.
Trailing 14-13 midway through the second quarter, Seattle Christian started covering the court like swarms of locusts. Johnson had already begun her offensive fireworks, but she stepped up her achievement even more.
Shelton opened up the the Warrior attack with a driving basket down the lane as the Warriors began to push the Eagles into the ropes with dynamic defense, as well. Johnson converted on two consecutive rebound baskets and sank a free throw as the result of another offensive rebound. Madelyn Weber assisted Johnson for a lay in to cap a Seattle Christian 9-0 scoring run that enabled the Warriors to lead 22-14 at halftime. Johnson worked for 11 points during the quarter.
"After my first shot, I felt confident going out there," said Johnson who hit the boards running to spin her shots around for a game high 16 points. "For the rebounds, I was just being sneaky."
Seattle Christian delivered the knockout blows in the opening minutes of the second half.
For most of the first half, Seattle Christian's inside game was nullified, but Shelton changed the dynamics by maneuvering her way for short range jump shots and driving lay ins.
As the Warriors strongly contested every Eagle action, Shelton scored on two consecutive baskets and four consecutive free throws to balloon the Warrior ascendancy to 30-14. The rest of the game featured intimidating Seattle Christian defense. At one occasion in the fourth quarter, the Warriors held a 23 point lead.
For the game, Shelton finished with 14 points based on the strength of her eight third quarter points.
"The middle opened up and I was able to drive to the basket," she said. "Getting the ball into the key and long passes opened up the floor."
Alyssa Kaler played strongly near the end of the game to accumulate 12 points. No Life Christian Academy player earned more than six points.
Alayna Gleason suffered a cut above her left eye late in the third quarter while Molly Ronish had surgery on her left shoulder.
"We're making steady progress," concluded Jansen. "The girls are pulling through and making the best of it through injuries and illnesses."
In a brief pre-game presentation, Life Christian presented Katie Collier, who is battling leukemia, with a special gift. Collier was physically unable to play this night.
Seattle Christian was set to play second place Cascade Christian at home on Tuesday, January 10.
