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Western Albemarle’s girls basketball team getting things done with defense comes as little surprise. Even when the Warriors struggled last season with injuries and depth issues, Western managed to play good defense most of the time.
But getting it done on defense while extending out and pressing? That’s a little new.
“A little different look to our lineup allows us to do that,” said Western coach Kris Wright. “Obviously Julia (Haws) has always been able to do that, Natalie (Marbury) has gotten so much better at it and then Elizabeth (Coffman) is a real solid freshman in doing that, so it allows us to change up how we guard sometimes.”
The press worked nicely as Western held Fluvanna County, a squad tied for first place in the Jefferson District going into that contest, to just seven first half points en route to a 41-31 victory over the Flucos. The press also helped create a little more up-tempo style for the Warriors, who are well-suited to adjust to that approach.
“We have a lot of shorter guards so it’s fun to play fast,” said Western senior Julia Haws. “We’re all able to push the ball and get those easy lay-ups.”
After one quarter, Western was up 13-2. By halftime it was 21-7 Western. Fluvanna, quite simply, couldn’t solve the pressure in the first half, particularly with Kate Stutz tethered to the bench with three first quarter fouls.
“The biggest thing is that in the beginning when they did apply pressure to us, we were going away from the basket and the only way you’re going to beat pressure is going toward the basket,” said Fluvanna coach Chad White.
Western got enough offense from Marbury who finished with 13 points and from Coffman who notched eight points. The game also wouldn’t have been nearly as close if the Warriors had managed to convert a little more consistently at the free throw line, where Western went 21-for-45 with the Flucos fouling in the fourth quarter to try and claw their way back into the contest. But in the end, the defense made sure that that point output was enough.
“I thought our defense was as good as it has been all season,” said Western coach Kris Wright. “Those four in a row were really four good solid Western defense. Just an outstanding effort on that end.”
Stutz led the Flucos with 12 points, with all 12 coming in the second half. Beyond Stutz though the Fluco offense struggled with Alena Pellum and Chaniya Brown notching five points each.
