Lady Highlanders pull out win over Westside
THE WOODLANDS — Sometimes it can be difficult on a coach to get a team excited and energetic about playing defense.
The Woodlands coach Trista Tatsch doesn’t really have that issue with her team.
The Lady Highlanders trailed Houston Westside Friday evening at halftime, but a huge second-half effort on defense proved to be the deciding factor in the non-district contest.
The Woodlands held the Lady Wolves to four field goals and just 13 points — four of which came with less than a minute to play — for a 56-44 victory.
The Woodlands (11-8) forced 33 turnovers and out-rebounded Westside 49-43 in the win.
“This is a really special group and they love to play defense,” Tatsch said afterwards. “That’s helping us. It’s how we can slow some teams and get some points out of that. They really buy in and do a great job in priding themselves in being a good defensive team.”
The Lady Highlanders trailed 31-29 at halftime and looked to a senior in Madison Morton to spark the offense after the break.
Morton made two buckets underneath the hoop and then a baseline jumper in the first minute and 30 seconds of the third quarter. She totaled eight points in the quarter and scored nine of her 11 points in the second half as her third field goal of the half ended up giving The Woodlands the lead for good.
“She’s a good player and I expect a lot from her,” Tatsch said. “So when she’s not getting some of those points, I get frustrated because I know what a great player she can be. She came out the second half and was determined. That’s awesome to see.”
The Woodlands led Westside (11-10) 45-38 after three quarters started the fourth on a 7-0 run for a 5240 lead.
Westside junior Kayla Pilson made a field goal underneath the hoop at the 2:57 mark before The Woodlands got baskets by senior Emma Warnsman and junior Miima Mpagi for a 16-point lead.
The Lady Wolves shot 4-for-20 from the floor in the second half and turned it over 13 times.
“That was a great second half,” Tatsch said. “We’ve had some trouble stopping some teams in the third quarter. To be able to do that today was good.”
Warnsman finished with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Highlanders. Morton, as well as Anna Luman, each had eight rebounds. Mpagi had 10 points, six boards and four assists. Tori Vezza had a team-high seven assists.
For Westside, Helena Johnson had a team-high 11 points while Fatou Samb and Pilson each had eight points.
The Woodlands, which beat by 19 points last year as well, came in on a twogame slide.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Tatsch said. “Westside is a really good team. I knew that the girls were going to have to come out really focused and ready to go. I think they did that. We talked a lot the last few days just about playing good defense, but also being smart and thinking a little bit more before we make some of the mistakes we’ve been making in the last few games.”
The Woodlands is off until the Magnolia Tournament which starts on Dec. 28.