Esquivel’s excellent start
Junior guard scores 9 of her 16 in 1st quarter as Griffith rolls in 1st game since Nov. 25
Marisa Esquivel was eager for Griffith’s game at Clark on Wednesday, its first since pausing its season three weeks ago because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The junior guard showed that spark, scoring nine of her 16 points in the first quarter of the Panthers’ 65-27 win.
“I did not like quarantine,” Esquivel said. “I like being active all the time. Sitting at home is boring. There’s nothing to do.
“Our whole team needs to bring the energy, and one person can start it so everyone can have it. That’s what I tried to do.”
Esquivel entered the game against the Pioneers (1-6) averaging a team-high 14.0 points and 4.0 steals, which was tied for the team lead. She has attempted to make an all-around contribution for the Panthers (3-1).
“I was doing pretty good on defense, running the top of our 1-3-1,” Esquivel said. “And I was doing pretty good knowing when to take my own shot and when to pass to my teammates. It’s not all about one person — we’re a team. We have to make sure everyone does their part, not just one person or two people.”
Griffith had called off four games since a 47-16 win against Illiana Christian on Nov. 25. The Panthers still are without two starters, senior guard Julissa Hamm and junior center Jaecy Nelson, although both should return next week, according to first-year coach Ken Anderson.
“It’s a different year,” Anderson said. “It’s hard. We got quarantined because of our own program, not someone else’s. Not only do you have to worry about your own kids, but you’re worried about what you’re going to do down the line once you get your kids back.
“We just talk about focus all the time. We defined it for them — the bridge between explanation and execution. Our focus is something we continually work on.”
Anderson coached Gavit for 10 seasons through 2015-16. He led the Gladiators to a regional final and a 22-2 record in 2010, when they won their first sectional title since 2001 before losing to Griffith.
He’s liked the way the Panthers have bought into his system.
“It’s all part of growing,” Anderson said. “We’re a work in progress. With everything going on, we’re doing our best to keep getting better, and we’re doing a good job with it.”
Junior guard Cierra Pipkins scored a career-high 21 points for Griffith, and senior guard Ariel Esquivel added 13.
Pipkins and Marisa Esquivel have flourished in tandem.
“They’re both juniors, and they’re both at the top of our defense, so they’re going to get a lot of run,” Anderson said. “But they really know what they’re doing on the offensive end too. We’re looking to them not only this year, but for next year too. Just like we’re learning them, they’re learning our program too.”
Yannet Garcia had 10 points for Clark, which also missed three games from late November into early December because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m satisfied with the way we
played, especially being off for as long as we were,” Anderson said. “The first half afforded us the luxury of playing all 11. We have a bunch of games coming up, so we rested a lot of players. You
can see the second team doesn’t get a lot of run, and they need to. It was just good to get different players on the court.
“It was just good to be on the court.”