Second-half struggles deliver game to BC
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Diving In Angel Brooks dives after the ball during the second half of El Campo's game with Bay City Tuesday. El Campo lost 59-40.

Tuesday's basketball game with Bay City left the Lady 'Birds frustrated after a difficult loss.

Going into the game, the Lady Blackcats were 3-0 in district while El Campo was 2-1. Clearly underdogs playing on an intimidating court, the Lady 'Birds gave a great effort early, but fell late 59-40.

It was a showing of two completely different teams for El Campo in the first and second halves. The Lady 'Birds enjoyed a 25-20 lead at halftime, but in the third and fourth quarters, they only managed 15 points and gave away several turnovers to benefit Bay City.

"There was nothing positive in the second half," Noma Kremling, head coach of the Lady 'Birds, said. "There was nothing positive happening for us, but we're in control of that destiny. If we're not going to make it happen, it's not going to happen just by accident.

"I thought (Bay City) came out in the second half and did a lot more intense work, a lot more aggressiveness and were a lot more focused than what we were. I thought we did a great job of coming back in the second quarter, in coming back from the first when we started slow, but we've got to play 32 minutes."

If El Campo could have kept the same pace it set in the first half, it would have been a major win for the Lady 'Birds.

The first quarter was a struggle for both teams. Two evenly-matched defenses forced several missed shots by their opponent.

El Campo fell behind 4-12 in the first few minutes of play, but charged back to cut the lead with several consecutive baskets. With 1:24 left in the game, El Campo was down 12-10.

Over the next few possessions, Bay City pulled back ahead 16-11, and was poised to take momentum into the second, but the Lady 'Birds changed that at the buzzer.

With around 20 seconds in the game, Ebonee Spencer grabbed a loose ball and made a basket to cut the lead to 16-13. Bay City charged back down the court on a fast break and was about to get a quick basket as time expired, but Spencer ran in from behind for a block that rang louder than the buzzer. El Campo's momentum was solidified.

The second quarter featured great play by the Lady 'Birds' defense.

At 6:13 in the quarter, El Campo took a 17- 16 lead on a dish from Shae Solomon to Chelsi Robinson under the basket. The Lady 'Cats never caught up with El Campo.

Several Bay City turnovers led to scores from Ashley Brooks, Angel Brooks and Spencer. At the half, El Campo led 25-20 and looked ready to knock the first-place team in District 24 4-A down a notch.

Then the second half started.

Bay City gave a different defensive look and it was the Lady 'Birds who made the turnovers. El Campo was outscored 19-7 in the third quarter and at the start of the fourth, Bay City led 39-32.

"When Bay City came out in the second half with a little press, I didn't see that the press was causing any turnovers," Kremling said. "We were just simply not executing, throwing it right to them, not looking at what we were doing, dribbling when there's two people hanging on top of us and just not making good decisions."

Errant passes and ball-control mistakes continued to plague El Campo's fourth quarter.

Bay City never backed down from their quick-attack offense and took advantage of any possession they had for several more scores.

The fourth quarter went to the Lady Blackcats 20-8 for a 59-40 win over El Campo.

The loss made the Lady 'Birds stumble a bit in district rankings. El Campo moved into a tie with Foster for third place with both teams 2-2 in district play.

LADY 'BIRD STATS

Bay City 59, El Campo 40

	1st 2nd 3rd			4th	F
BC	16	12	7	8	- 40
EC 13		4	19	20	- 59

EC Leaders

POINTS - Ashley Brooks 14, Ashley Thomas 8, Angel Brooks 6

REBOUNDS - Shae Solomon 9, An. Brooks 7, Ebonee Spencer 6