RENO - If only the Galena High girl's basketball team could've played the entire game against Reed High the same way they played the first quarter.
The Grizzlies, with a definite height advantage, outscored the Raiders 19-3 in the opening quarter en route to a 41-27 win in the first round of the 8th annual Mountain Classic on Thursday at Galena High.
Kellie Burton, at 6'2, and Seslee Howell at 5'10, combined to score 11 of those points, including Burton, who scored seven of her game-high 11 points in the first. Reed, without a player over 5'10, just didn't have an answer for Burton.
"We're short and they were a bunch of trees," said Reed forward Andrea Chaney. "But we just have to adjust and play our game because it's something we're going to have to get used to."
The Raiders, who were only outscored 9-8 in the second quarter, did make some adjustments defensively but still trailed 28-11 at half-time. In the first half, Reed only made 5 of 10 free throws. But even if the Raiders were able to knock down some more free throws, they still weren't able to break the down a relentless Galena defense, which forced 11 first-half turnovers. Guards Annie Baxter and Aimee Hawkins, who scored six of their combined 10 points in the first-half, were the beneficiaries of Reed's carelessness with the ball.
"Galena's a great team," said Reed coach Prim Walters. "We need a couple more months to get ready for a team like that and I think they (Galena) let up a little bit in the second half."
In the second half, Galena coach Karen Friel was able to play all 12 players, including Hawkins and Ashley Satterwhite, who scored three points off the bench.
"We wanted to get everybody some playing time," Friel said. "We need all of our players to be ready to play and the only way they will be is by playing them in game situations."
After leading 35-11 through three quarters, Galena made only two field goals in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies were held scoreless for a 4 1/2 minute stretch before Laura Hickman's bucket with 2:37 left in the game made it 39-22. Reed, who outscored Galena 13-6 in the final quarter, were within 12 points with 1:14 to play but that's as close as they got. Galena's Joanna Hixon finished nine points.
"Obviously, we have a lot of things to work on," Friel said. "We expected Reed to play a hard game and they did. But we should've done a better job after the first quarter."
Douglas 53, Mazama (Klamath Falls, Ore.) 41
Emily Haas scored 12 points and Andrea Honer had 10 as the Tigers pulled out a victory over Mazama in the first round of the tournament on Thursday at Galena High.
Mazama was led by Marcy Burk, who finished with 12 points. Douglas plays Wooster in the second round today at 4. The Colts lost to Bonanza (Las Vegas, Nev.) 89-69 on Thursday. Galena will play Mazama in the second round tonight at 7. All games are played at Galena High. The top two teams will play in the championship game on Saturday at 1 p.m.
