Trojans, Sutherland pick up first win
Leah Hartley (13) and Madyson Morton (11) combined for 24 points for California.
The third time was the charm for the California girls’ basketball squad this season, as the Trojans registered their first victory of the 2024-25 season in their third game with an emphatic 51-17 rout of hosting Carmichaels Thursday night in both team’s Section 3-2A openers.
The victory was the first for first-year coach Brandi Sutherland.
“The defensive effort was outstanding,” Sutherland expressed. “We boxed up and usually limited them to one shot on every possession. We controlled the boards and did not let a lot of things happen under the basket. We held their guards in check, and it was a nice, overall effort on defense. We were really happy with our interior defense.”
The Trojans (1-2, 1-0) had a late start to the season compared to some other local teams and only had a pair of non-section games before Section 3-2A play.
Cal lost to Bishop Canevin, 55-39, in their opener Dec. 14 and then suffered a 61-20 setback to Brownsville Tuesday.
“It’s all about making shots and taking those shots,” Sutherland said. “Against Brownsville, we were way too timid with shooting and our offense was out of sync. If you want to score, you got to shoot. Yesterday in practice, we worked on putting up good shots and running a more aggressive offense. The girls responded pretty well tonight.”
Leah Hartley led all scorers in the contest with 13 points for the Trojans, while Madyson Morton tallied 11.
“We have been playing with each other for a number of years and we gel on the court,” Morton said. “We just try to have fun with everybody and play as a family. I think one of my jobs as a captain is to make sure everyone is on the same page and to communicate on the floor.”
Addison Gregory, the Trojans’ lone senior, added eight points, while Hayley Gibson filled up the stat sheet on the night with nine points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.
The Mikes (0-7, 0-1) were limited to just six baskets in the game and Ali Jacobs grabbed a team-high six points. Shayln Pyle and Duski Staggers compiled four points each in the loss.
“The defensive pressure is there for us,” Sutherland said. “When you hold a team to under 20 points, you are doing something right. I think the key for us over these next couple of weeks is finding our offense and making sure our subs off the bench come into games with
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Jeff Helsel / MVI Sports consistency.”
The visitors garnered the early momentum from the opening tip and held a commanding 20-1 advantage at the end of one. Hartley scored nine points in the opening eight minutes, while Morton got six of her points in the first frame.
“We moved our feet on defense and contest every shot,” Morton said. “We just have a good groove going in the first half and never let up in the second half. You have to have that commitment on defense from the first to the fourth quarter.”
The lone point for the Mikes in the opening quarter was a free throw by Joselyn Carter.
“I think when we were at practice yesterday, we really came together as a team,” Gregory said. “We brought the right focus and tried to change all our mistakes from the last two games. We knew being tough on defense would be key and that first quarter was our best of the season.”
Both teams tallied nine points apiece in the second stanza, as the Trojans carried a 29-10 lead into halftime. Jacobs had three points in the quarter for Carmichaels, while Tatiana Matthews chipped in with four points off the bench for Cal.
“We have good chemistry,” Gregory said. “We know we need contributions from everyone on our team and we try to be positive with one another on the court. We are learning and improving every day.”
Cal dominated play once again in the third quarter and held a 10-1 scoring edge in the period.
Jacobs had the only point for the home team on a foul shot, while the visitors went 6-for-14 from the free throw line in the quarter. Gibson and Hartley each totaled a basket in the quarter.
The Trojans quickly evoked the mercy rule in the early stages of the fourth quarter with a 6-0 spree, courtesy of buckets from Gibson, Gregory and Lauren Hartley.
The squads split the final 12 points, as Cal won in a convincing manner to open section play.
One of the key aspects for the Trojans this season is using their height at both ends of the court.
“We do have a lot of height on the team,” Sutherland said. “Hayley is 6-foot-1 and plays with a lot of energy on the glass. She is OK with the physicality of the high school game. Madyson and Addison are pretty tall for guards, and they help out with rebounds and the interior defense. It’s all about finding those mismatches.”
Up next for Cal after the holiday is the Lady Maples Christmas Classic Tournament against Hundred (WV) Dec. 27.
The Trojans will resume section play at home against Chartiers-Houston Jan. 2.
“We have to stick together in games, especially when it comes to the section,” Morton said. “This section is going to be tough, and we all know that. There will be some ups and downs, but you just have to ride all the emotions and be consistent on the court.”
