When your team is rolling on all cylinders like the Panthers girls basketball team members were Thursday against Montgomery, it’s hard not to be optimistic.
“I think [playing together] will get us really far, when we play Gill [St. Bernard’s] and those tough teams,” said Panthers guard Denisha Petty-Evans.
It certainly got the team far on Thursday. Petty-Evans led the Panthers with 15 points, and Bridgewater-Raritan created a total of 23 takeaways to rout the Cougars by a score of 52-13.
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“I think we just played with composure and played the defense we usually do,” said Panthers head coach Dorcas Miller-Edwards. “We pressured the ball pretty well and we denied the wings, and I think the girls came out understanding that we need to win another game to finish up the Christmas tournament and go into conference play, where it’s really going to be crucial for us.”
The Panthers dominated the game from start to finish. In the first quarter, Bridgewater-Raritan stole the ball seven times from Montgomery players, setting themselves up with a 13-4 lead at the end of the opening period. By halftime, the team was able to build on that lead while playing stout defense to lead 24-8 at the intermission.
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“I think Denisha, along with the rest of our team, really does a conscious effort of playing hard on defense, and I emphasize that enough so we can get ready for the bigger games,” said Miller-Edwards.
Petty-Evans contributed in every facet of the game, finishing with the aforementioned 15 points to go along with four rebounds, three steals and a block for the Panthers [3-1].
While she was able to create plenty of offensive opportunities, Petty-Evans gave credit to her teammates for making plenty of contributions themselves. Senior forward Christine Tress and sophomore guard Eunice Abogado combined for 11 steals for Bridgewater-Raritan, while junior Hannah Brophy and sophomore Mary Kronenwetter each notched eight points apiece.
“I was able to push our score up,” said Petty-Evans. “We just played with composure and patience. We came out disciplined.”
With these contributions and more, the Panthers only surrendered five second-half points. Bridgewater-Raritan led 38-11 heading into the final period and nearly shut the Cougars out in the fourth quarter, allowing two late points after their starters were taken out of the game.
The Panthers followed the team’s blueprint for success magnificently on Thursday, and it bodes well if they can continue doing just that.
“I think that’s what we want to do the first two or three minutes of the game, is put a lot of pressure on a team to make them feel uncomfortable,” said Miller Edwards. “With our guards being quick, we are able to press up and able to make them work.”
