PORTLAND The Damascus Christian girls basketball team struggled to find the basket in the first quarter of Saturdays Valley 10 league championship game, but it didnt seem to make any difference.
The Eagles connected on just 2 of 17 (.118) attempts through the first five minutes, including misses on nine straight from behind the 3-point line.
The result?
Damascus held a 4-2 lead on the scoreboard.
We just had to keep the pressure up, knowing that sooner or later the shots would start to fall, Damascus coach Dave Wakefield said.
That margin quickly expanded when Valerie Wakefield faked a 3-pointer that drew a crowd of defenders, opening the door for teammate Cierra Warren to break down the center of the lane all alone. Wakefield hit her in stride with a perfect pass, and Warren took one step to the basket for a layup.
Damascus guard Ana Wakefield would dial up a pair of 3s before the quarter ended, and the Eagles were well on their way to a 53-23 blowout win.
Damascus (25-1) heads into the 1A playoffs as a heavy favorite.
The Eagles played No. 4-ranked City Christian three times during the season, and the closest challenge they faced was a 20-point win.
Its hard to beat a good team three times in a row, Dave Wakefield said. Our girls knew that, and they came out focused tonight.
Look for expanded coverage from this game and others in the Valley 10 playoffs in the Tuesday, Feb. 19 print edition.
http://daveball.exposuremanager.com/Page