Sometimes, improve-ment is measured in small increments and that
is so for the Live Oak High girls basketball team right now.
Sometimes, improve-ment is measured in small increments and that is so for the Live Oak High girls basketball team right now.
In their second game of the season, the Acorns improved their scoring and free-throw percentage, scoring 14 more points than they did in their season-opener and nailing 5-of-6 free throws after hitting just 27 percent from the charity stripe in that first game.
But incremental improvements are often accompanied by setbacks and Live Oak’s 59-33 non-league loss to visiting Gunderson on Tuesday had plenty of those.
After scoring just 19 points in its opener, Live Oak had that many by halftime against Gunderson but couldn’t sustain a solid defensive effort.
“I told the team we’d have 19 points by halftime and we did, and our offense was better, but with us it’s about defense, defense, defense,” Acorn coach Richard Silva said. “We had a better free-throw percentage but we’ve got to there more. We have to be aggressive going to the basket.”
In addition to surrendering 15 more total points than in its first game and getting to the free throw line much less, Live Oak (0-2) also failed to implement its full-court press and half-court trap with much effectiveness against the Grizzlies, according to Richard Silva.
“I told the girls to go into the press as soon as we score a basket but we get into the game and instead we run back (on defense),” Silva said. “And, we didn’t stop the ball on top and we got out-rebounded. I guess we get into the game and we forget what we practiced. You can have the first-game jitters but this is the second game and that’s two games at home. If we keep playing like this it’s going to be a long season.”
The Acorns got out to a fast start behind solid play by senior guards Ruth Dominguez and Megan Smart, and led 8-4 after the first three minutes of play.
But Gunderson went on a 14-0 run, spurred by Acorn turnovers, and led 18-12 after the first quarter.
Live Oak cut the lead to three at 20-17 on an Analise Curley basket with 2:58 to play in the first half, but the Grizzlies scored nine of the final 11 points in the half to take a 29-19 lead into halftime.
Junior guard Amanda Lytle scored a team-high eight points, while senior forward Dana Cline and Curley both added six.
