Highland Bears hit 100 points in big win on opening day of season
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Highland Bears Under-14 girls opened their National league Campaign with an emphatic 100 – 43 home victory against Falkirk Fury at Inverness Royal Academy Sports Centre.
With the Bears dominant centre Chloe Sanderson winning the tip-off the ball was fired forward to Grace Alexander's secure hands who drove effortlessly to the basket to score the first of an emphatic 46 points total.
She displayed all of her International experience to pressure and steal the ball then score the following three baskets, forcing the visitors to call a time out to work out how to quell the onslaught.
But the Bears continued to be dominant with fellow Scottish Internationalist Emily Seago demonstrating her deft ball skills to glide past the Fury defenders to also score at ease to finish with sixteen points.
The Bears defence was also on top form as the twin pillars of Olivia MacLennan (7 points) and Chole Sanderson linked up well to prevent any easy attempts on the Bears basket and in fact denying any field baskets for the entire first period.
The introduction of first year players Esmee Wilson (2 points), Jessica Waldie (2 points) and Isla Devlin (10 points) who worked tirelessly executing the team plays diligently as per the coaches instructions resulted in the Bears finishing the first period 36-4 up.
The break allowed Falkirk's head coach, John Bunyan, to regroup his very young team and they came out with renewed confidence opening the scoring and for three minutes out scored the Bears 10 - 6 led by their own future star Ruby Cruickshank's (17 points).
The Bears responded though team captain Lexi Kershaw whose tenacious defence dried up the visitors offence to only one more basket while her dribbling ability drove the ball up the court for numerous opportunities for her teammates as well as a very creditable 12 points personally.
These opportunities from Lexi's assists allowed Emma MacMillan (3 points) and Hannah Thomas (2 points) to score on their leagues debut.
With the game well won at half time this allowed head coach Ross Waldie to rotate his team throughout the second half giving valuable minutes to Eva Skinner and Lucy Sanderson whose contribution was without fault and proving the continued success of the Highland coaching strategy.
Last years domination by the Bears in the under-14 league resulted them being moved into the Under-16 Divison Two play-offs which they won with six of the squad then representing Scotland against England.
With only two players remaining from that squad assistant coach Marc Wilson feels: "We have a lot of hard work ahead of them but if this performance can be repeated I am confident the girls will be hard to beat."
The Bears have an away trip this Sunday to Edinburgh team, Boroughmuir Blaze, who won their opening game 58 - 22. with teams only playing each other once in the 12 team league a win is vital for the Bears.
The Bears had a double success last weekend with their under-16 girls team getting their season going with an emphatic 84 - 49 away win to West Lothian Wolves.
Having lost their season opener after dominating the opening period the Bears unfortunately lost their influential guard Baileigh Matte to an injury which looks likely to keep her out for eight weeks.
This though only made the young Bears more determined this week and with inspirational coaching from Anna MacArthur the Alexander sisters linked up like twins scoring 14 of the quarter points with Grace going on to top all scorers in the game with an impressive 28 points. While Charlotte whose intricate hand control deceived the defence enabling her to feed her teammates for numerous assists while also driving to the basket for sixteen points. Not to be out down real twins Mackenzie and Emily Bell displayed true effort in defence preventing any Wolves comeback in the second quarter as the visitors dominated, to end the half 43 - 24 up.
Yet again Emily Seago displayed deft dribbling and with her successful long rage three point shooting being on form finished with 20 points.
Dominating the defensive boards was Olivia Brechin (2 points) whose presence forced the home side into poor shots whereby her numerous rebounds were outletted to Ruth Mackay (2 points) and Lexi Kershaw whose transition game quickly got the ball up the court.
The resulting inlet passes to Emily Hill whose offensive footwork then got her past her defender to score 14 points.
This excellent win now sets the Bears up for a home game this Saturday against St Mirren who they defeated last year by over 60 points.
The game tips off at 11:20am at Inverness Royal Academy Sports Complex where spectator space will be at a premium with the Club starting their 30 year celebrations by inviting all the original coaches and players over the decades along with current membership to watch.
