Tam takes control, defeats Hornets
This basketball season hasn't been particularly kind to either the Tam or Novato high school girls. The Red-tailed Hawks have stumbled since last season, and the Hornets are faced with the possibility of an MCAL season without a win.
Within Saturday's contest between the two teams, however, there were moments of joy, laughter … and even sideline dancing.
The Hawks had reason to smile during the 53-27 victory over the Hornets. Senior Maddison Smith racked up 19 points against Novato to reach 208 points this season. She grabbed 11 rebounds and five steals. Emma Palmer also had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds to go with five steals.
“We felt great tonight,” Tam coach Lynnette Egenlauf said. “We were competitive and we made sure the girls had fun.”
The celebrations came from both benches, as the Hornets celebrated their 7-2 run to end the game. Sophomore Ariana Plascencia finished with eight points and five rebounds, while senior Gianna Scafani had seven points and five rebounds. Junior Isha Ali scored all five of her points during the Hornets' final run in the fourth quarter.
“The team chemistry is better this year,” Novato coach Jon Ratshin said. “The girls are much more positive this season.”
The teams went back and forth to start the game, but Tam (11-11, 6-8 MCAL) soon put its stamp on the contest with a 20-8 lead by the end of the first quarter, which the Hawks extended to a 23-point halftime lead.
Novato tried to mount a rally in the second half, but turnovers — forced and unforced — proved costly.
“We're still learning how to compete and how to control the ball,” Ratshin said. “But we're on the players every day about using this season as a learning experience and not making the same mistakes again and again.”
The Hornets (7-16, 0-13) prepare to close out the season with matchups with San Rafael (6-17, 3-11), Redwood (15-8, 8-5) and Terra Linda (5-16, 2-11). Novato hasn't finished above .500 since the 2017-18 season, and has recorded only one win since then.
Tam finished fourth in the MCAL last season and reached the North Coast Section playoffs. Injuries to four of the team's five starters early this season set the Hawks back in their quest to return to the postseason.
“We saw a lot of growth early in the season,” Egenlauf said. “Younger players had to step up and gained a lot of experience. Now, at the end of the season, the starters are back and the younger players are improving.”
The seniors who see their high school basketball careers quickly coming to a close, might look at this season as a long goodbye. But their teammates, with more experience and new skills, are starting to look ahead toward next season as a chance to move toward the league's upper tier.
“We'll have a young core next season, but with lots of experience and talent,” Egenlauf said. “We can be excited about next season,
although it's too bad Emma and Maddison won't be with us.”
Smith has reportedly accepted an offer to play lacrosse at Northeastern University.
Despite losing seniors Katie Woolard, Scafani, Adriana Cervantes and Ailish Lowth, the Hornets are hopeful for next season.
“We're playing a lot better than last year,” Ratshin said. “We still have a lot of inexperience on the roster, but we're getting better.”