Catlett Reaches 1,000 Points As Clarke Routs Skyline
79-23
Posted: December 2, 2014
By ALLEN BRIDGE
Special to The
Winchester Star
BERRYVILLE - In a match-up of experience versus
youth, the veteran-led Clarke County girls' basketball team opened up its
season at home in dominating fashion, coasting by the young Skyline Hawks
79-23.
Clarke County coach Regina Downing had to be
pleased with how her team came out to open the season as it shut out the Hawks
the entire first quarter and finished the game with a team total of 27 steals.
But perhaps bigger than the opening win and 27
steals the Eagles came up with was when senior forward Anna Blue Catlett scored
the 1,000th point of her career.
Catlett was 21 points shy of the mark prior to
the contest and wasted no time reaching it as she sunk her fifth 3-pointer of
the game to record reach 1,000 for her high school career with 5:03 remaining
in the second quarter.
"It's really exciting to reach 1,000 points,"
Catlett said. "I've been waiting for this moment for awhile. [Fellow senior]
Sydney [Chrane] got her 1,000th point last year and I was ready to get mine for
this first game of the season."
Chrane, who finished with nine points, six
rebounds and five assists Monday, reached the milestone last January in a win
over Manassas Park.
"Catlett and Chrane are two outstanding
players," Downing said. "I'm just glad I can be a part of this experience with
them and be able to help them reach their 1,000 points in their careers."
The Eagles started the game strong, scoring 21
points in the first quarter behind 15 of Catlett's game-high 22 points. Clarke
was able to shut out the Hawks, who only attempted one shot the entire first
quarter and were only able to cross halfcourt a handful of times due to the
full-court press and traps of the Eagle defense.
"I was very pleased that we were able to come
out with intensity and a lot of energy," Downing said. "We were able to execute
the things we've been working on in practice. Our whole main focus this year is
defense. In order for us to be successful we have to be able to play good
defense."
Clarke County didn't take its foot off the gas
in the second quarter, exploding for another 22 points in a quarter that barely
featured the duo of Catlett and Chrane, taking a commanding 43-4 lead heading
into halftime.
The Eagles were balanced in scoring all night
outside of Catlett's 22 as each member of the team registered at least two
points on the night.
"We got outplayed from start to finish," said
Skyline coach Jim Kenney. "Clarke is extremely athletic and well coached. They
have a lot of experience and we have a lot of kids playing varsity for the
first time this year. We knew they were going to press and trap a lot, but what
Clarke does, it's hard to replicate that intensity and style of play in
practice."
The Hawks came out of halftime playing with a
little more intensity, limiting the Eagles to 10 points in the quarter while
managing to score seven themselves, led by freshman forward Nikea Whitmore's
team high six points.
Coach Downing was not happy with how her team
came out in the third quarter, subbing in her starters midway through the
quarter to try and generate some momentum and to give her a chance to talk to
her younger players on the sideline.
"We have to stay focused," Downing said. "We got
a little lackadaisical their in the third quarter only scoring 10 points. We
kind of lost focus there and we can't afford to do that. We have to stay
focused."
The Eagles were able to get focused again in the
fourth, playing hard-nosed defense and forcing nine steals in the quarter.
Clarke County scored 26 more points in the quarter, led by sophomore guard
Morgan Withers who had six of her 11 points in the fourth.
"We have to learn to put together four good
quarters of basketball," said Downing. "Going into George Mason on Wednesday is
going to be tough. Playing them on the road is always tough and they always
rise up for the occasion when we play them. Our defense has to be on it on
Wednesday."
Freshman guard Megan Hicks
had 10 points on the night along with three steals to help lead the Eagles, and
sophomore guard Jade Payton totaled a team-high five steals in the win.
79-23
Posted: December 2, 2014
By ALLEN BRIDGE
Special to The
Winchester Star
BERRYVILLE - In a match-up of experience versus
youth, the veteran-led Clarke County girls' basketball team opened up its
season at home in dominating fashion, coasting by the young Skyline Hawks
79-23.
Clarke County coach Regina Downing had to be
pleased with how her team came out to open the season as it shut out the Hawks
the entire first quarter and finished the game with a team total of 27 steals.
But perhaps bigger than the opening win and 27
steals the Eagles came up with was when senior forward Anna Blue Catlett scored
the 1,000th point of her career.
Catlett was 21 points shy of the mark prior to
the contest and wasted no time reaching it as she sunk her fifth 3-pointer of
the game to record reach 1,000 for her high school career with 5:03 remaining
in the second quarter.
"It's really exciting to reach 1,000 points,"
Catlett said. "I've been waiting for this moment for awhile. [Fellow senior]
Sydney [Chrane] got her 1,000th point last year and I was ready to get mine for
this first game of the season."
Chrane, who finished with nine points, six
rebounds and five assists Monday, reached the milestone last January in a win
over Manassas Park.
"Catlett and Chrane are two outstanding
players," Downing said. "I'm just glad I can be a part of this experience with
them and be able to help them reach their 1,000 points in their careers."
The Eagles started the game strong, scoring 21
points in the first quarter behind 15 of Catlett's game-high 22 points. Clarke
was able to shut out the Hawks, who only attempted one shot the entire first
quarter and were only able to cross halfcourt a handful of times due to the
full-court press and traps of the Eagle defense.
"I was very pleased that we were able to come
out with intensity and a lot of energy," Downing said. "We were able to execute
the things we've been working on in practice. Our whole main focus this year is
defense. In order for us to be successful we have to be able to play good
defense."
Clarke County didn't take its foot off the gas
in the second quarter, exploding for another 22 points in a quarter that barely
featured the duo of Catlett and Chrane, taking a commanding 43-4 lead heading
into halftime.
The Eagles were balanced in scoring all night
outside of Catlett's 22 as each member of the team registered at least two
points on the night.
"We got outplayed from start to finish," said
Skyline coach Jim Kenney. "Clarke is extremely athletic and well coached. They
have a lot of experience and we have a lot of kids playing varsity for the
first time this year. We knew they were going to press and trap a lot, but what
Clarke does, it's hard to replicate that intensity and style of play in
practice."
The Hawks came out of halftime playing with a
little more intensity, limiting the Eagles to 10 points in the quarter while
managing to score seven themselves, led by freshman forward Nikea Whitmore's
team high six points.
Coach Downing was not happy with how her team
came out in the third quarter, subbing in her starters midway through the
quarter to try and generate some momentum and to give her a chance to talk to
her younger players on the sideline.
"We have to stay focused," Downing said. "We got
a little lackadaisical their in the third quarter only scoring 10 points. We
kind of lost focus there and we can't afford to do that. We have to stay
focused."
The Eagles were able to get focused again in the
fourth, playing hard-nosed defense and forcing nine steals in the quarter.
Clarke County scored 26 more points in the quarter, led by sophomore guard
Morgan Withers who had six of her 11 points in the fourth.
"We have to learn to put together four good
quarters of basketball," said Downing. "Going into George Mason on Wednesday is
going to be tough. Playing them on the road is always tough and they always
rise up for the occasion when we play them. Our defense has to be on it on
Wednesday."
Freshman guard Megan Hicks
had 10 points on the night along with three steals to help lead the Eagles, and
sophomore guard Jade Payton totaled a team-high five steals in the win.
