Eagles Take 3rd @ Bradshaw Jamboree

The Lady Eagles played at the Bradshaw Christian Basketball Jamboree over the weekend, taking 3rd place out of a very strong field. The tournament field include Bradshaw Christian, last year's Sac-Joaquin Section Division V Champions and Wilton Christian the sections runner-up. The Eagles opened the tournament against Victory Christian, a team that on paper appeared to match up well with TC, but on the court could not stay with the Eagles. The final score was TC 47 and Victory 23.

Outstanding Performance included:

Points Scored: Erin Santiago (17), Amy Wright (12) and Kaisa Spycher (8)
Rebounds: Amy (9), Erin (6) and Molly Zuhlke (6)
Assists: Kara Gabrielson (4), Tiffany Snyder (4) and Erin (4)
Steals: Kara (7) and Molly Farrar (4)
Blocks: Amy (2), Kaisa (2), and Molly Z (2)

The second night of the tournament had a different outcome. The Lady Eagles faced the Bradshaw Pride and lost 20-47. TC held the Pride to its lowest point total of the season, taking at least a "point of pride" victory from the game. The great advantage that Bradshaw had was a group of very good and very aggressive athletes that were allowed to be extremely physical by officials who called only 12 fouls the entire night. TC was playing against 7 players when the caliber of officiating was considered.

Outstanding Performance included:

Points: Erin (14)
Rebounds: Kaisa (8), Emily Breuss (6), Marly Burton (6) and Molly Z (5)
Steals: Amy (4)
Blocks: Marly (2), and Molly Z (2)

Saturday night was apparently the night to attend a game if one was only going to one. The Eagles beat Encina 72-69 in overtime. This reporter, stats person, and parent had other obligations (a Christmas gathering with dear friends --- planned by my wife and I --- What were we thinking? Dear friends or a basketball game? No real doubt what is more important. --- Sorry I digress) The Eagles played a very athletic Bulldog team and were trailing by 11 with five minutes left in the fourth quarter. At this point, one witness told me, Molly Farrar and Candice Balswick had a fire in their eyes that said, "No one is going to stop us". Molly F and Candice had somewhere near 20 to 30 steals between them in a five minute span, this is what one parent who attended the game told me. The actual count for the game was Molly (5) and Candice (4). Behind the great defense of these two athletes the Eagles came back and won.

Outstanding Performances included:

Points: Erin Santiago (24), Candice (16), Amy Wright (15) and Molly F (11).
Assists: Erin (4).
Steals: Molly F (5) and Candice (4).

I would like to put a couple of special thanks out there for Dan "I'll never do stats again" Farrar for doing stats and Eric Spycher for telling me that it was the greatest girls game he, but not I, had ever seen:-(