GIRLS HOOPS: Wilson dominates Waynesboro in 64-33 win
Madison Payne goes to the basket at Waynesboro High School on Thursday evening.
With a combination of veteran experience and youthful energy, the Green Hornets are improving game by game as the regular season progresses.
That improvement showed on Thursday night as Wilson used a well-balanced effort to dominate Waynesboro 64-33 in local girls basketball action.
“We didn’t really have a normal preseason,” Hornets head coach Jackie Bryan said. “We’re adding things as we go. Now that I’ve seen them all together, I am able to see what works and what doesn’t in terms of combinations and such.”
Leading by one in the opening frame, Madison Flint connected on a 3 from the right wing followed by a pair of buckets in transition from Paris Hutchinson to give Wilson a 14-8 lead at the end of one.
In the second, the Hornets opened up the frame on a 7-0 run.
Korinne Baska connected on a 3 to start the quarter, followed by a driving score from Cheridan Hatfield and a beautiful dish from Baska to Sarah Sondrol in the lane to extend the Wilson lead to 13.
“We’ve worked on that,” Bryan said of her team’s swift ball movement. “We’ve talked about our shot selection. We were too rushed. We were trying to score too quickly. We’ve been working on that. I’m pleased.”
After a pair of buckets from Chauncey Johnson and De’nia Jones cut the Hornets’ lead to 12 in the third, Wilson responded with a 10-0 run, including three buckets inside from Sondrol to blow things open.
Hutchinson later connected on a 3 with 2:40 remaining in the third to push the Hornet lead to 21 and send the starters to the bench.
“They just outplayed us,” Lady Giants head coach Kevin Loker said. “They outhustled us. They ran to the ball harder. We had way too many turnovers. They made layups and we didn’t. That’s about all I got.”
Just one week prior, the two teams met in the season-opener in Fishersville.
In that contest, Wilson struggled with fatigue but managed to still come away with a six-point win.
This time around, Bryan saw a difference in her squad.
“We’ve got our legs under us a little more,” the head coach said. “We’re trying to get more familiar with one another and play to our strengths. We’re getting our second wind. … I thought it was a phenomenal team effort tonight.”
As the players continue to get into what Bryan calls “basketball shape” as the season goes along, it allows the Hornets to execute their full-court press more effectively and wreak havoc on opposing guards.
“I thought we did a great job in that first quarter,” Loker said of how his team handled the Wilson press. “We were handling their press and getting into our stuff. We just didn’t make any shots.”
Four different Hornet players scored in double figures with Sondrol leading the way with 19 while Hutchinson had 15 and Hatfield had 14. Baska also chipped in with 10.
Bryan says her three seniors - Sondrol, Hatfield and Sam Kershner, who is currently battling a hamstring injury - have stepped up this season as the leaders for a group that is otherwise very young.
“The three of them are really just leading the team,” she said. “One of the things about this group is the three seniors have never played with the freshmen. They’re learning. I really encourage them to look for each other’s strengths. … I anticipate us getting better and better as we come together as a team.”
For Waynesboro, Johnson was the lone double-digit scorer with 12 points on the evening while Jones had seven and Sydney Sutton added six.
The Hornets (3-1) are right back in action Friday night at non-district opponent Broadway while the Giants (2-2) are off until Tuesday when they host Valley District foe Spotswood at home.
“Tomorrow night will be a good test for us,” Bryan said.
- By CODY ELLIOTT For The News Virginian
Madison Payne goes to the basket at Waynesboro High School on Thursday evening.
- MICHELLE L. MITCHELL/ THE NEWS VIRGINIAN (Photo)
With a combination of veteran experience and youthful energy, the Green Hornets are improving game by game as the regular season progresses.
That improvement showed on Thursday night as Wilson used a well-balanced effort to dominate Waynesboro 64-33 in local girls basketball action.
“We didn’t really have a normal preseason,” Hornets head coach Jackie Bryan said. “We’re adding things as we go. Now that I’ve seen them all together, I am able to see what works and what doesn’t in terms of combinations and such.”
Leading by one in the opening frame, Madison Flint connected on a 3 from the right wing followed by a pair of buckets in transition from Paris Hutchinson to give Wilson a 14-8 lead at the end of one.
In the second, the Hornets opened up the frame on a 7-0 run.
Korinne Baska connected on a 3 to start the quarter, followed by a driving score from Cheridan Hatfield and a beautiful dish from Baska to Sarah Sondrol in the lane to extend the Wilson lead to 13.
“We’ve worked on that,” Bryan said of her team’s swift ball movement. “We’ve talked about our shot selection. We were too rushed. We were trying to score too quickly. We’ve been working on that. I’m pleased.”
After a pair of buckets from Chauncey Johnson and De’nia Jones cut the Hornets’ lead to 12 in the third, Wilson responded with a 10-0 run, including three buckets inside from Sondrol to blow things open.
Hutchinson later connected on a 3 with 2:40 remaining in the third to push the Hornet lead to 21 and send the starters to the bench.
“They just outplayed us,” Lady Giants head coach Kevin Loker said. “They outhustled us. They ran to the ball harder. We had way too many turnovers. They made layups and we didn’t. That’s about all I got.”
Just one week prior, the two teams met in the season-opener in Fishersville.
In that contest, Wilson struggled with fatigue but managed to still come away with a six-point win.
This time around, Bryan saw a difference in her squad.
“We’ve got our legs under us a little more,” the head coach said. “We’re trying to get more familiar with one another and play to our strengths. We’re getting our second wind. … I thought it was a phenomenal team effort tonight.”
As the players continue to get into what Bryan calls “basketball shape” as the season goes along, it allows the Hornets to execute their full-court press more effectively and wreak havoc on opposing guards.
“I thought we did a great job in that first quarter,” Loker said of how his team handled the Wilson press. “We were handling their press and getting into our stuff. We just didn’t make any shots.”
Four different Hornet players scored in double figures with Sondrol leading the way with 19 while Hutchinson had 15 and Hatfield had 14. Baska also chipped in with 10.
Bryan says her three seniors - Sondrol, Hatfield and Sam Kershner, who is currently battling a hamstring injury - have stepped up this season as the leaders for a group that is otherwise very young.
“The three of them are really just leading the team,” she said. “One of the things about this group is the three seniors have never played with the freshmen. They’re learning. I really encourage them to look for each other’s strengths. … I anticipate us getting better and better as we come together as a team.”
For Waynesboro, Johnson was the lone double-digit scorer with 12 points on the evening while Jones had seven and Sydney Sutton added six.
The Hornets (3-1) are right back in action Friday night at non-district opponent Broadway while the Giants (2-2) are off until Tuesday when they host Valley District foe Spotswood at home.
“Tomorrow night will be a good test for us,” Bryan said.
