Bravettes bow to Rustlers
Flathead's Danika Johnson (44) goes in for a layup as CMR's Alison Sullivan (14) defends and Jordan Bagley (5) look on during Saturday afternoon's game in Kalispell.
The Flathead Bravettes will likely be burning this particular game tape.
Flathead (1-3) endured an 82-50 nonconference loss to the visiting CMR Lady Rustlers (3-1) on Saturday night.
The Bravettes scored just seven points in the second half and the game clock ran continuously on the 40-point rule from the 7:41 point of the fourth quarter.
Danika Johnson — 11 points — was the lone Bravette to reach double figures.
“We got outhustled,” said Flathead coach Karly Tait.
“Our effort was not where it needed to be. (The Rustlers) are a good team. Til the final buzzer went off, they played harder than us,” Tait said.
The Bravettes are just four games into their season, so there is still plenty of time to make improvements, she added.
The thing to do now is “practice harder, better and hope it carries over. Can’t take anything back after it is over.”
“(Flathead) has come a long way. I think the future is bright for them,” said CMR coach Chad Olson.
He was impressed with Johnson’s post play and also with the level of play he saw at the subvarsity level.
As for the Lady Rustlers? Everything worked for them.
“We just shot the lights out,” Olson said.
“We shot 72 percent in the second half. We got a lot of open looks, but you’ve still got to make them and we’re happy with that.”
Three girls were in double figures for CMR — Alison Sullivan netted
16, followed by Haley Vining and Jordan Bagley with 15 apiece.
The CMR press did its job in the first quarter as the Rustlers forced 10 Flathead turnovers in the period and took a 13-4 advantage in the first five minutes.
“We’ve been working hard on our press. It did take the wind out of their sails. We got them down and we kept them down,” he said.
The Rustlers were up 13 points after the first quarter — and they kept pouring it on from there. The score at half was 45-23.
And the second half was more difficult for Flathead.
“At times, we looked pretty good, but we’re nowhere near where we need to be yet,” Olson added.
The Bravettes’ only points in the third quarter came on a Tess Brenneman field goal at the 3:29 mark. She was fouled on the shot and made the free throw.
In the fourth, Flathead got free throws from Annie Cronk and Taylor Twichel and another field goal from Brenneman.
CMR 26 19 20 17 — 82
Flathead 13 10 3 4 — 30
CMR — Haley Vining 6 1-1 15, Sarah Leo 1 0-0 2, Jordan Bagley 7 1-2 15, Katy Klick 3 0-1 7, Alison Sullivan 7 2-3 16, Kate Striepe 4 0-0 8, Donna Serido 2 0-0 4, Jessie Hardin 1 0-0 2, Alex Lowry 1 2-2 4, Diondra Denton 0 1-1 1, Sara Wier 4 0-0 8. Totals 36 7-10 82.
Flathead — Sam Thompson 0 0-2 0, Christyne Hanson 2 0-0 4, Tess Brenneman 3 1-1 7, Taylor Twichel 2 1-2 5, Annie Cronk 0 1-2 1, Brittany Earnest 1 0-0 2, Danika Johnson 4 3-4 11. Totals 12 6-11 30.
3-point goals: CMR 3 (Vining 2, Klick 1), Flathead 0. Total fouls: CMR 15, Flathead 13. Fouled out: None.