Basketball season is underway and the Racer girls have a regular game win and a consolation championship.
The Racers started the year 1-0 after a hard fought win over Chickasha on December 5.
Head Coach Nichole Copeland said, “It was a bit of a defensive struggle for us, especially in that second quarter, but we buckled down and made the plays when we had to. It was a great team effort and we got solid production and contributions from everybody.”
The Racers won the game, 54-47, with quarters of 12, 12, 12 and 18 to Chickasha’s 7, 21, 7 and 12.
Statistics for the Racers were: Reagan Greenroyd,13 points on 5/12 shooting to go with 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals; Leah Bradley: 11 points on 3/6 shooting, 4/5 free throws, 3 rebounds and 3 assists; Bella Allen: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal; and Ava Snider: 16 points on 6/8 shooting, including 4/5 from 3 point range, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist.
“Ava was the x-factor for us in this one,” Copeland said. “For a freshman to come into her first ever high school varsity game and do what she did was big time. She showed a glimpse of what’s to come not only for this season but over the next four years. We’re really excited about her and this entire freshman class and the potential they bring to our team.”
Over the weekend, the Racers played at the Harrah Panther Classic. They lost their first game to Piedmont, 5238, but rallied back and beat Star Spencer, 52-29, and then Harrah, 37-29.
Coach Copeland said the opening game loss was a bit of a rough and tough game against a battle-tested 6A team.
“They do what they do extremely well and we got outplayed and out-hustled,” she said. “The story of this game, however, is not the statistics, but instead in the 50/50 balls and the hustle plays. It just seemed like Piedmont won all of them.”
Copeland said the Racers didn’t fight or play as hard as they are expected to play night in and night out, and Piedmont “made us pay for it.”
“We have to find a way to grow as a competitor,” she said.
Greenroyd had a career high 17 points on 6/9 shooting, including 5/6 from threepoint range. Snider had eight points and three rebounds.
“Reagan continued her solid start to the season scoring the basketball. Her work in the offseason is showing early on in this first week. She has been a total gym rat, putting as much work into her game as anyone you can find. She’s only a sophomore and will continue to get better,” Copeland said. “As a team overall, we know we had to be better defensively after this one, giving up 100 points in two games to start the year. The next two games are all about us and how we compete and execute our defensive game plan, with a goal of coming out of this tournament 2-1 and with a trophy.”
The game against Star Spencer was a great bounce back game for the Racers, according to the coach. All three of the Racer bigs — Amber Ellis, Brylee Scott, and Jayden Lassen — either missed this game or were limited due to injuries, so the team needed other players to step up.
“We got that from top to bottom,” Copeland said.
Greenroyd once again led the Racers in scoring with 13 points and also pulled in 5 boards. Allen made 4/5 3-point fieldgoals on her way to a career high 13 points. Bradley added 5 points, 3 rebounds and an assist. Rylee Heskew also showed her playmaking ability with 3 assists.
“Our three leaders got us going, but we also got an extended look at our freshman five,” Copeland said. “Each one came in and made an immediate impact.”
Coach Copeland had the following comments: - Ava Snider didn’t shoot the ball near as well as she had the first couple games but her length and her activity on the court in other ways can’t be overlooked. She got her first career start in this game and finished with 5 points and 5 rebounds.
- Baylee Miller also got her first career game action as well as her first career start. A solid player with a bright future, she finished with 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.
- Emerson Marble finished with 4 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals, showing flashes of her potential and what she can bring.
- Jordan McFarland came in and knocked down a big 3 and also, as a small guard, gathered up 9 total rebounds.
- Katelynne Williams also got in on the action. Coming off a major knee injury last winter, she has started to work her way back into game action and her toughness made an immediate impact, especially defensively, collecting 2 steals.
“This young group of freshman have a real knack for finding ways to make an impact on the game and they showed it tonight, helping us get back on track with a big win,” Copeland said.
In the Consolation Championship game, the Racers got behind early with an 8-13 first quarter, but then worked their way back with quarters of 7-8, 8-4, and 14-4, for the 37-29 victory.
Harrah was the team that ended the Racers’ season last year, so this was a game in which the girls were ready. Their pressure play sped up the Racers early, forcing the girls to rush some shots and cause some mental lapses, but the Racer defense came on strong in the second half, allowing the offense to pick it up, execute and come out with the win.
Brylee Scott, who had missed the first few games due to injury, came on strong during this game. Copeland said her rebounding, energy and toughness defensively in the post was the x-factor, adding that the Racers don’t win without her performance.
“Amber Ellis showed us the real Amber Ellis in the second half,” Copeland said. “After a rough first half, she came out and showed the player she is capable of being, coming up with crucial rebounds winning 50/50 balls to extend possessions and playing solid defense.”
Greenroyd had a new career high with 18 points on 6/11 shooting, 3/6 from three point range, and 3/4 at the free throw line. She had crucial buckets in the second half when they were needed, according to the coach, and she continues her great start to the season offensively.
Allen had six clutch free throws in the fourth quarter, which accounted for her six points to go along with four rebounds, two assists, and four steals.
“Her presence and production at the PG position for us is going to be huge for us this season,” Copeland said.
Bradley did not have a big scoring night for Newcastle, but she may have played her best defensive game she’s played in two years, according to the coach.
She grabbed three rebounds, had two steals and took a charge.
“She’s more than just a shooter,” Copeland said. “She showed it tonight and we need her to continue to be that player.”
C opeland said overall it was a great start to the season for the Lady Racers, going 3-1 with the lone loss coming to a solid 6A team and winning a trophy in the process.
“We’ve shown a lot of growth leading up to this season and it’s helped us get off to a good start. We have to continue to work and get better. We’re never satisfied,” Copeland said.
The Racers played at Blanchard Tuesday night, and play at Anadarko tonight (Thursday).
