JAY — It often takes a matter of seconds to go from stealing to giving.
That’s how fast things can change with the unbeaten Spruce Mountain girls’ basketball team.
The Phoenix are thieves in one instant and making life miserable on the defensive end. That often leads to a quick steal and sudden offense. From there, Spruce Mountain is giving the ball to teammates on the move and playing a fast-paced brand of unselfish ball.
“That’s the biggest thing we’ve worked on — not pounding the ball and over dribbling,” Spruce Mountain coach Chris Bessey said. “It took them awhile to get used to this style where we push the ball all the time. As soon as we get the ball, we’re looking to get up the floor and try to score in transition. They’re definitely getting there.”
The Phoenix overwhelmed Mt. View with that up-tempo style Friday night in a 64-30 win.
The Mustangs had over 30 turnovers and Spruce Mountain had 25 steals that led to an abundance of transition points. That enabled the Phoenix to break the game open early and get each other involved in the action. A number of nice passes and fine ball movement had the 9-0 Phoenix opening a 13-1 lead in the first quarter and 19 straight points in the second.
“We’ve been together a long time,” senior center Sam Richards said. “It’s natural for us to look for each other. We have good lane runners and we’ve really been working on cutting in practice. So it’s starting to come for us and it feels like its something that’s normal and not forcing it anymore.”
Emily Keene led Spruce Mountain with 21 points. Richards had eight points and seven rebounds. Alex Bessey added seven points while Emily Hogan had five points, nine rebounds and four assists. The Phoenix had 12 different players score.
When Bessey went to a second group of five off the bench, Spruce Mountain barely missed a beat. Alex Bessey, Hogan, Rylee Moore, Amanda Castonguay and Amie Pelletier were all part of a second five that challenged the Mustangs as well as the first.
“That’s one of the advantages that we have that other teams don’t,” Bessey said. “We have some bench players that could start for other teams in the conference. We don’t lose a lot. That’s an advantage that we have and it allows us to play that tempo.”
Mt. View (1-8) got eight points from Andrea Crosby and six each from Halle Reynolds and Dina Bilodeau.
The Phoenix roared out to a quick 13-1 lead. Mt. View had nine turnovers in the first quarter and missed its first nine shots. The Mustangs didn’t hit a field goal until 1:40 left in the first quarter.
After two Keene free throws to start, Kailee Newcomb scored on a fast break off a pass from Keene. Then Richards scored off a steal and pass from Vanese Barnes, who led the Phoenix with six steals.
After a Crosby free throw, Richards scored in the post and Keene finished off a pass from Barnes for a three-point play. Alex Bessey scored off a Hogan pass for the 13-1 lead.
“I think one of the reasons why we’ve been doing so well in the KVAC is that defenses can’t stop one player,” Richards said. “You can’t even just stop the starting five. We’re really deep this year. We work really well together. I think it’s hard to go into a game and try to single out somebody and try to stop them.”
It was 16-7 after the first quarter and the Mustangs actually cut the lead in the second with a free throw from Megan Elkins and a basket by Austyn Thomas. That made it 16-10, but Mt. View didn’t score again until 42 seconds remained in the half. Spruce Mountain ran off 19 straight for a 35-10 lead.
The Phoenix forced 14 turnovers in the quarter while Mt. View hit just one of its first seven shots.
Keene scored on a drive and then finished off a Pelletier steal. Keene and Nicole Hamblin each sank free throws for a 23-10 lead. Hogan scored off a Barnes steal. Barnes sank two from the line. Castonguay hit a short jumper. Then Bessey scored off back-to-back steals, and Barnes finished off a Hogan pass.
Spruce Mountain hit five of its first seven shots in the first quarter and four of its first five in the second. When the Phoenix had to settle into the half-court, Spruce Mountain had some nice teamwork and ball movement. Some of the shots didn’t fall, but some good chances were created.
“We have to get a little bit more consistent in the halfcourt,” Bessey said. “If teams make us run our offense, we have to be a little bit better and more consistent. When we play good teams and get to February, that’s what’s going to happen.”-
Spruce Mountain led 35-13 at the half and maintained the lead in the third. Keene had 10 points in the quarter, including a pair of 3’s. Moore had a pair of baskets while Richards, Castonguay, Pelletier and Newcomb all scored.
“It’s really a balanced attack,” Richards said. “You can’t stop one person because another person will get two more and another person will get two more. It’s never going to be one person.”
Mt. View missed its first 10 shots of the final quarter. The Phoenix got three points from Hogan and a drive from Hanna St. Pierre. Avery Goding hit a pair of free throws.
kmills@sunjournal.com
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