TC Battles LeGrand

TC and LeGrand (37-52) squared off in a battle of the Southern League's best teams and the game was well worth the admission price. The teams battled back and forth throughout the first half, unlike the last time the two teams played. In that game the contest was all but over by half time with LeGrand leading 34-14. This week's meeting between these two teams was evenly matched. LeGrand pulled out to a 14-9 led after the first quarter but the Eagles fought back with a 11-9 2nd quarter to trail by only 23-20 at halftime. Many in the stands started to think upset. LeGrand pulled away in the second half on the strength of their full court press, forcing a total of 27 turnovers, excellent free throw shooting, 14-20 and a bizzare "medical timeout" when one of the LeGrand players was hurt and the Bulldog coach took "forever" to get out on the court to check on her and when he got to her he did nothing. Our own Randy Hopkins checked on the player, helped her up and walked her to her bench while the LeGrand coach appeared to have either forgotten his compassion on the bench or figured this was a way to cool the TC players down by moving as slow as possible. This was a different way for him to distract LeGrand opponents, usually he is screaming at the officials until they stop calling fouls on his team. It had to be one of the strangest reactions to a player's injury that I personally have seen and I coached high school basketball for 16 years. Both teams were far below their normal steal numbers and only 8 of the Lady Eagles turnovers were actual steals by LeGrand, meaning that violations, errant passes and basic "freaking out" resulted in 19 turnovers. The Eagles held the Bulldogs shooting to only 30%, 9% below the team average, and out rebounded them by 24. LeGrand won the game by making 11 more free throws and forcing all those turnovers. The girls played an excellent game.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES included:

Points; Erin Santiago (12 points and 71% from the floor)
Rebounds: Erin (12) and Molly Farrar (11)
Steals: Kaisa Spycher (3)
Assists: Erin (4) and Molly F. (2)
Blocks: Kaisa and Erin (4), Amy Wright (2)

Last week I mentioned TC's chances of a Southern League championship was very slim, well slim has turned to impossible. We are now fighting for 2nd place with Mariposa. If the Lady Eagles can beat Mariposa on Thursday then they will be in 2nd place all by themselves.

TURLOCK CHRISTIAN SEEDED 6th

The first CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Power Ratings came out on Monday and the Lady Eagles are currently seeded 6th in Division V. If the play-offs began today the Eagles would play Victory Christian, a team they played and beat in the Bradshaw tournament. The ratings could change as Southern League play concludes.

Just click "Power Rating" to see the complete section seeding. The Division V ratings are the last page.