By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – The best way to deal with a tough loss is to come back and win right away.
The Sheridan girls basketball team had the opportunity to do that Wednesday night. After falling at Frankton 66-23 in their season-opener Tuesday, the Blackhawks returned home and gave their crowd a reason to cheer with a hard-fought 74-66 win over Monrovia.
“It definitely felt good, especially after last night at Frankton,” said Sheridan coach Jaidlin Delph, who is beginning her second year as head coach of the ‘Hawks. “It was rough, and I think it was really good for the girls to be able to come back and play today, two days in a row, because they were still pretty mad from the night before. So I think it actually worked out, that back-to-back game.”
After a back-and-forth first quarter, Sheridan hit a couple baskets at the end of the period to take a 17-14 lead. That was actually the beginning of a 7-0 run that stretched into the second quarter. Katy Crail, Lillie Dickerson and Berkley Williams all made baskets during the run.
The Blackhawks got hot from beyond the arc in the second period. Williams hit an early 3-pointer to put the Blackhawks up 23-15. Monrovia answered with a basket, but Sheridan then embarked on an 11-0 run. Two freshmen led the way: Chaney Smith nailed two 3s and Jacquellynne Bates made one. Allie Delph added two free throws during the run.
Williams and Smith each hit one more 3-pointer late in the second quarter, which finished with the ‘Hawks ahead 43-23.
“We told them that they really need to make a name for themselves,” said Jaidlin Delph. “Prove a point and prove to everyone that we’re not a bad team, that we’re going to be a team that people struggle with this year some, and then hopefully we can improve upon our record from last year.”
The Bulldogs made a run of their own to start the third quarter, scoring 12 unanswered points to cut Sheridan’s lead to 43-35. But the ‘Hawks got their outside shooting going again, as Williams, Crail and Allie Delph all hit 3s and put Sheridan back up 56-39.
The Blackhawks led 59-44 after three quarters. Monrovia whittled that lead down to single digits and stayed around there for most of the fourth period, but Sheridan was able to make timely baskets in order to keep the Bulldogs at arm’s length. The closest Monrovia got was 69-64 with 29 seconds left, but the ‘Hawks finished the game out from the free throw line, with Emma Went making 3 of 4 free throws and Crail going 2-for-2.
Coach Delph credited maturity for helping her team to hang on for the win.
“We are a young team, but we do have experience and I think that helped a lot, some of the kids have had experience playing in these stressful games last year,” said Delph. “That definitely helps and our leadership from Allie Delph is unmatched. She put the team on her back and really handled it.”
Allie Delph was one of three players in double figures with 16 points, and also had seven steals, six rebounds and four assists. Crail and Williams both added 13 points, with Williams and Smith both making three 3s. Sheridan had 12 3-pointers for the game.
“I don’t know where it came from, but I hope it sticks around all season,” said Jaidlin Delph.
In the Tuesday game with Frankton, Kaylie Kantz led Sheridan with eight points. Went scored six, followed by Delph with three, Crail and Dickerson with two points each, and Reed and Taylor Bates both had one.
The Blackhawks are 1-1 and host Bethesda Christian on Friday, with a 7 p.m. varsity start.
SHERIDAN 74, MONROVIA 66
Sheridan FG FT TP PF
Katy Crail 4-9 3-4 13 4
Allie Delph 3-7 8-14 16 0
Kaylie Kantz 3-5 2-4 9 4
Lillie Dickerson 1-2 0-0 2 3
Taylor Bates 0-1 2-4 2 3
Sierra Duke 0-2 0-0 0 4
Emma Went 1-7 5-9 7 3
Berkley Williams 5-11 0-0 13 2
Chaney Smith 3-7 0-0 9 0
Riley Reed 0-0 0-0 0 0
Jacquellynne Bates 1-2 0-0 3 3
Totals 21-53 20-35 74 26
Score by Quarters
Sheridan 17 26 16 15 – 74
Monrovia 14 9 21 22 – 66
Sheridan 3-point shooting (12-29) Williams 3-7, Smith 3-5, Crail 2-6, Delph 2-4, Kantz 1-2, J. Bates 1-1, Went 0-3, Duke 0-1.
Sheridan rebounds (28) Delph 6, Crail 4, T. Bates 4, Went 3, Smith 3, Kantz 3, Williams 2, Duke 1, Reed 1, Dickerson 1.
Sheridan’s Berkley Williams makes a play for the ball during the Blackhawks’ game with Monrovia on Wednesday. Sheridan won 74-66 for its first victory of the season. (Richie Hall)