Thrilling Comeback Over Shasta Helps Eagle Women Start 2-1 in GVC

Off to a 2-1 start in the Golden Valley Conference, the Eagle women's basketball team will have an opportunity to move into first place when they host the Butte Roadrunners Wednesday at 5 p.m.

It won't be easy against a Butte team that is 2-0 in conference and 14-4 overall. But these Eagles showed an ability to overcome the odds on their home court when they rallied from 16 points down to defeat Shasta in overtime, 82-75, on Jan. 10. That win thrilled a large and loud crowd inside Tom Powers Court, including men's team players, who were waiting nearby for the start of their game.

The Eagles trailed Shasta, 40-30, at half time, fell further behind, then chipped away at the deficit starting in the final 4 minutes of the third quarter. Coming off the bench, freshman Annabelle McCarthy made a driving shot to get the Eagles within 13 at 58-45. That started a 10-0 run that included a breakaway lay-in by freshman Kady Lindstrom, a three-pointer by freshman K'shalee Smartt-Thomas, a free throw by freshman Ashley Wicks, and another basket from under the hoop by Lindstrom.

Later in the quarter, Smartt-Thomas scored to get the Eagles within two at 68-66, then a block by freshman Alayja Oliver led to a lay-in by Alexes Collier that tied it at 68.

Shasta went up 71-68 on a three-pointer, but the Eagles responded with a long three from beyond the top of the key by Collier.

In the final minute, Shasta got the ball back with a two-point lead, but Ashley Wicks refused to let their guard, Nisa Rodriguez, make a play after crossing the mid-court line. Coach Noelle Collier said Wicks' play was "huge," as she forced Rodriguez into the corner in front of the scorers' table, then stole the ball and scored an uncontested lay-in to tie it with just 12 seconds to play. Shasta center Taylor Ford then missed a contested shot, the ball bounced out to Alexes Collier, and the Eagles called timeout with 7 seconds remaining.

Coach Collier set up a play but told her players she felt confident that, if they didn't get a shot up, the Eagles would have the advantage in overtime. They did indeed, outscoring the Knights 9-2 in the extra period.

Earlier in the week, the Eagles opened their conference season with a 78-57 victory at Lassen, and they followed the exciting win over Shasta with a 69-58 loss Saturday at Redwoods.

After the Shasta game, coach Collier said she likes how the team is getting contributions from so many different players. All five starters scored in double digits and had between 3 and 5 assists that day, while "everyone made good plays, even Annabelle and Rayana (Atkins) when they came in."

Alexes Collier, K'shalee Smartt-Thomas, and Alayja Oliver scored 17 points each against Shasta, Ashley Wicks scored 13, Kady Lindstrom 10, and Kaitlin Mandell 6.

Smartt-Thomas made 5 three-pointers and had 3 assists; Oliver had 8 rebounds and 3 assists; Alexes Collier had 8 rebounds and 5 assists; Lindstrom had 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals; Wicks had 5 assists and 3 steals; Atkins had 3 of the Eagles' 11 offensive rebounds and 6 total rebounds.

The team also got big contributions from many players in the win at Lassen, where they led 40-19 at half time and 65-33 after three quarters. Lindstrom finished with a game-high 18 points, Mandell scored 15, Collier and Wicks 13 each, Smartt-Thomas 10, Oliver 8, and Atkins 2.

The Eagles had 50 total rebounds in their conference-opener, 12 of them after their own missed shots. Lindstrom had 3 offensive rebounds, 10 total rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Collier had 4 offensive rebounds, 10 total rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocked shots. Mandell grabbed 2 offensive rebounds and 9 total rebounds with 6 assists and 3 steals. Wicks had 6 rebounds, 3 assists and a block; Oliver 6 rebounds and 2 steals; Smartt-Thomas 5 rebounds and 2 assists; and Atkins and Annabelle McCarthy had 2 rebounds each.

Going into Wednesday night's home game, the Eagles (8-11 overall) and Redwoods (10-9) are tied for second in the GVC, both 2-1 while Butte is 2-0. Lassen is 1-1 and 4-12, Shasta 1-2 and 7-12, Feather River 0-3 and 6-12.

By Steve Gerace