Prep basketball: Su Valley girls grab first win

HOUSTON — Although Susitna Valley had already played four games this season, Saturday represented a fresh start for the Rams. Sparked by the return of four starters to the lineup, the Rams scored a 33-23 win over the Anderson Grizzlies at Houston Middle School.

“We had players that we haven’t had all season come back,” Su Valley head coach James Sickler said.

Senior Caitlin Hunt led the Rams (1-4) with a game-high 15 points, and scored seven of her team’s nine first-quarter points.

“She had a lot of key steals for us and played really good defense,” Sickler said.

Hunt posted a pair of early lay-ups, shots created by steals, to help the Rams grab the early lead.

Hunt also drained a three-pointer midway through the first frame.

The Rams enjoyed a quick start and a big finish against an Anderson squad that featured only five players in uniform.

Tiffany Berry led the Grizzlies with nine points, and Brittney Berry added eight.

The Rams took a 9-2 lead into the first intermission, and capped the game with a 15-5 run in the fourth.

Hunt added four points in the fourth, and fellow senior Kristjana Timmers took over play inside with six of her eight points in the final quarter.

Sickler said Timmers provides the “tough” play the Rams need inside.

“She’s doing a good job of getting physical, getting to the free-throw line,” Sickler said.

The Grizzlies used an 8-3 second-quarter run to creep back into the game, and tied the score at 12-12 with a Tiffany Berry lay-up early in the third quarter.

With Anderson threatening to take its first lead of the contest, Su Valley guard Teslin Matthews scored back-to-back buckets to push the momentum back the Rams’ way.

Midway through the third, the ball popped free from a crowd of players and slowly rolled toward the Houston basket. Matthews broke free from the confusion, and while all alone, was able to get the easy bucket. On the ensuing play, Matthews swiped an Anderson pass at mid-court and popped in the pull-up jumper to extend Su Valley’s lead to six points.

“That was huge for us,” Sickler said. “She really did ignite us there.”

Su Valley’s win over Anderson marked one of five contests designated as home games for the Rams. Following the 2007 fire that destroyed Susitna Valley Junior/Senior High School, the Rams athletic squads have had to scramble to find temporary homes. This season, the temporary home of the SVHS basketball squad is Houston Middle School.

The Rams continue their road-heavy 2007-08 schedule with the three-day Tri-Valley Tournament next week in Healy.

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

Susitna Valley 33, Anderson 23

Saturday, Houston Middle School

Anderson 2-8-6-5—23

Susitna Valley 9-3-6-15—33

Anderson (23) — T. Berry 9, B. Berry 8, S. Warner 2, Stevens 2.

Susitna Valley (33) — Hunt 15, Timmers 8, A. Crosby 2, Moore 1, Matthews 4, Evans 2.