Bartlett makes winning transition vs. Metea Valley
Getting easy baskets in transition is what the Bartlett girls basketball team likes to do.
The Hawks were very good at it Saturday afternoon.
Bartlett used a 12-0 first-quarter run, including nine points coming off steals, to open a 13-point lead and then cruised to a 63-47 Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division victory over Metea Valley.
“Coach (Denise Sarna) really stresses on-the-ball pressure,” Hawks senior guard Janessa Baker said. “Lisa (Palmer) actually had 7 steals, so that contributes to everyone.”
Palmer had seven of the Hawks’ 16 steals. Ashley Johnson added 3. Bartlett (8-0, 1-0) forced the Mustangs into 22 turnovers.
“Lisa did a good job. She tried to turn up the heat a little bit and get things going,” Sarna said.
Metea Valley (3-5, 1-1) trailed 6-5 with six minutes left in the first quarter. Palmer had steal, layup and hit a free throw to convert a 3-point play. Another steal by Palmer led to a Katie Gutzwiller layup. Haley Videckis’ layup came off a Gutzwiller steal. Baker then had a steal and layup with 4:50 remaining in the first quarter for a 15-5 Bartlett lead. Videckis added a 3-pointer with 3:35 left in the first to cap the 12-0 run, giving the Hawks an 18-5 lead.
“I thought we contained them and did a nice job in the half-court defensively,” Metea Valley coach Kris Kalivas said. “There are a fastbreak team and when you turn the ball over, you allow them to play to their strength. Unfortunately that’s what we did for them today.”
Lori Obendorf had back-to-back baskets as the Mustangs got within 6 at 20-14. Metea Valley didn’t get any closer than that and never got closer than 13 in the second half.
Baker scored a season-high 20 points, many coming on easy baskets off teammates’ steals.
“In the right place at the right time,” Baker said.
Videckis added 14 points and 5 rebounds. Gutzwiller had 8 points. Palmer finished with 7 points, 7 steals and 3 rebounds.
Obendorf led the Mustangs, who were without Megan Geldernick, with 16 points. The junior also had 6 rebounds. Bria Walker added 10 points and 3 steals. Amira Turner had 9 points.