Big first quarter propels Live Oak girls past Homestead for
first win
Big first quarter propels Live Oak girls past Homestead for first win
MORGAN HILL
In the words of Live Oak girls basketball coach Jeff Perkins, “The first one is always a tough one,” and the Homestead Mustangs made sure the Acorns worked for their first win on Wednesday.
Playing in the December Madness Homestead Tournament in Cupertino, the Acorns narrowly defeated the host Mustangs 52-49 to get their first win of the 2007-08 season.
“Homestead got to choose who they wanted to play in the first round , and usually the home team chooses a team they think they can beat,” Perkins said. “I bet they’re wishing they hadn’t chosen us now.”
Led by post-dominating seniors Katie Armstrong and Katie Emick, who each scored 13 points, the Acorns put up a season-high 17 points in the first quarter despite strong pressure from the Mustangs.
“We’ve had slow starts to our games, but they put up 17, and the girls played really well early,” Perkins said. “They’re handling the other teams pressure, turnovers are way down, and our defensive pressure is getting better.”
The Acorns improve to 1-3 with the win over Homestead, and Perkins attributes the improvement to the teams ability to apply and handle pressure better.
“Katie Emick she is the best player we have on the team,” Perkins said. “She helps with pressure defense, and has very good skills under the basket.
Emick fouled out with four minutes left in the game, but the Acorns pulled together and played as a team … something that Perkins said his team is getting much better at.
“We were still trying to find ourselves against Sobrato and Hollister,” Perkins said. “The things (the Acorns) do in practice are now translating into the game, and the biggest thing helping us is that we’re better at putting pressure and being able to handle pressure.”
Despite being outscored 13-14, 8-9, and 14-15 in the second, third, and fourth quarters, respectively, the Acorns’ 17-11 first-quarter advantage was just enough to secure the win.
Sophomore guard Nikki Patel had seven points and controlled the tempo for the Acorns, while senior guard Karissa Watanabe applied the pressure and had a few steals down the stretch to secure the victory.
The Acorns advance to the championship bracket where they face Santa Clara High School tonight at 6 p.m. at Homestead High School.
“We should match up against Santa Clara,” Perkins said. “If we continue to play like we did against Homestead then we should do good on Friday.”
