Lady Lions win nailbiter over Cougars to open season

The Lockhart Lady Lions Freshman Basketball team traveled to Pflugerville for their first game of the 2007-2008 season on Monday, Nov. 5. The Lady Lions began their new season with a dramatic, “come-from-behind” 20-19 victory over the Pflugerville Connally Lady Cougars.
“Connally was playing pretty good court deny defense and we struggled a little getting into our off

ense,” Coach Dave Johnston said.
Guard Alyson Baltierra hit one of two free throws in the quarter for the Lady Lions as they trailed 6-1 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lady Lions were more comfortable in the second quarter. They did a better job keeping possession of the ball and made some good plays. Post Samantha Duncan hit a free throw and Baltierra added a basket. The Lady Lions went into half time with an 11-4 deficit.
Lockhart gave up a basket to Connally in the beginning of the third quarter and Connally extended their lead to nine points. The Lady Lions took over the game”s momentum scoring the last eight points of the quarter to cut the lead to 13-12.
Four different Lady Lions made it into the scorebooks in the third quarter. Guards Shanice Nino and Baltierra scored baskets. Posts Gwen Sanders and Karla Stovall scored as well.
Connally made their own run, scoring six unanswered points to take a 19-12 lead in the fourth quarter. The Lady Lions remained poised and continued to give 100 percent. With just 2:38 remaining in the contest, Lockhart made a final run at the Lady Cougars.
Samantha Duncan hit three jumpers off the glass to cut the lead to one. With 30 seconds remaining, the Lady Lions got a defensive stop and made an outlet pass to point guard Alysia Peralez. Peralez pushed the ball up the right side of the floor and with the defense recovering to the basket, nailed the 17-foot jumper. It was a perfect swish.
Lockhart rotated back defensively, slowing down the Lady Cougars and deflecting the ball out of bounds with 8 seconds remaining. After a Connally timeout, the Lady Lions hunkered down defensively and trapped the ball on the baseline deflecting a pass out to the top as the final buzzer sounded. The buzzer ended in jubilation for the Lady Lion team.
The Lady Lions used a heavy rotation of players with all contributing to the win. Starters for the first game were Baltierra, Nino, Peralez, Sanders and Duncan. Applying great defensive effort off the bench from the guard position were Nicole Matteson, Ashley Harper, Amy Alvarez and Whitney Brawley. Shutting down the inside game from the post position were Stovall and Emily Nairn.
“It was a complete team effort and a great beginning to the season,” Johnston said. “The girls never gave up. They continued to play for the entire 32 minutes. I am extremely proud of the effort our girls gave tonight.”
(Courtesy of Dave Johnston)