Prep basketball: Defense leads Houston to win over Galena

Dec. 17, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - It took 1 minute and 8 seconds for the Houston High School girls' basketball squad to turn things around Saturday.

The Hawks used a run late in the second quarter to spark a 40-36 victory during the final day of the Palmer Elks Showdown at Palmer High School.

Houston managed just six points in the first 15 minutes of the game, and the Hawks found themselves down 14-4 to the 2A school late in the first half.

&#8220We were dead,” Houston guard Jen Mason said after the Hawks' played in their third tough game in three days. &#8220It was more on us than them. We made more mistakes. We weren't playing strong.”

But then something happened.

Houston capped the first half with an 8-0 run, scoring more points in the final 68 seconds than the Hawks did in the first 14 minutes and 52 seconds.

&#8220The girls just got after it,” Houston head coach Jason Spakousky said.

Led by the pressure of Mason and fellow guard Caylee Redford, Houston forced turnovers and took advantage of opportunities.

Redford scored four points during the run. Anne Warner and Lynessa VanKirk also added buckets.

Mason said hustle was key during that stretch.

&#8220We just went after the ball,” Mason said. &#8220We had a lot of players going after the ball, instead of just a couple.”

That hustle is something Spakousky feels will be critical to Houston's success this season.

&#8220That quickness, that aggressive behavior that we're developing, that's something that's going to be a huge key for us,” Spakousky said. &#8220We don't have a lot of height, so we've got to use our speed.”

Redford gave the Hawks their first lead of the game, a 30-29 advantage, with 43 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Fueled by defensive pressure, Houston used a 16-5 run to march back into the game. Mason snagged three of her four steals in the third. On each steal, Mason took the ball the length of the court to the basket.

Galena felt Houston's defensive pressure on the perimeter and in the post.

Guard Emily Hundley recorded seven steals, and forward Laura Herman also had seven steals.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.