Bartlett makes winning transition
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.