Louisville – It doesn’t matter when a team takes the lead, only that it takes one at all. Just ask Monarch.
The Monarch girls basketball team did not overtake visiting Eaglecrest until 1:56 remained in the game Friday night, but the Coyotes held on for a 42-40 Class 5A victory.
Another important part of the game was that Eaglecrest (0-1) – a team coach Sherryl Klosterman said should be ranked and recognized – could not hit a free throw, making just 3-of-17.
“Free throws killed us,” Eaglecrest’s Angela Orozco said.
Monarch freshman Emily Wood hit all four of her free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter, including two that gave the Coyotes (2-0) a 39-38 lead down the stretch.
“I was under a little pressure because I started off so bad (by missing two attempts in the first half),” Wood said.
Monarch, which does not have a senior on the team, trailed 19-15 at the half before applying a pressure defense that was able to defuse the Raptors’ offense.
But Eaglecrest, with its inside presence of 6-footers Natasha Anderson and Jackie Hill, nearly pulled out the win.
Trailing by two points with 12.3 seconds remaining, Taija Bennett was fouled and went to the line. But the senior missed both shots. Eaglecrest then caused Monarch to commit a 10-second backcourt violation, giving the Raptors one more chance.
Bennett inbounded to Anderson, who heaved a long 3-point attempt that careened off the backboard and into the hands of Diamond Little. Little put up a shot from under the basket as time ran out, but her try banked off the rim and out.
“The first half, we were not in sync. In the end, we showed a lot of fight,” Monarch coach Gail Hook said. “At halftime, to play that poorly and only be down by four points, all we needed were a couple of adjustments.”
For Monarch, Emily McMahon led the way with eight points and 11 rebounds, and Aimee Zawacki and Kelly Waters scored seven points apiece. Sydney Grubich, who scored a game-high 17 points in Thursday’s win over Longmont, was held to one field goal but finished with six points.
For Eaglecrest, Orozco scored 10 points before fouling out, and Hill had eight points and seven rebounds.
Eaglecrest 11 8 12 9 – 40
Monarch 7 8 13 12 – 42
Eaglecrest – Anderson 3 1-2 7, Orozco 5 0-5 10, Hill 4 0-3 8, Bennett 2 1-5 5, Fields 1 0-0 2, Little 1 0-0 2, Bryant 2 1-2 6, Hancheck 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 3-17 40.
Monarch – Zawacki 2 3-3 7, Waters 2 3-4 7, Contro 2 0-0 4, Grubich 1 4-7 6, McMahon 3 2-4 8, Wood 0 4-6 4, Lynch 1 0-0 2, Louden 2 0-1 4. Totals 13 16-25 42.
3-pt. goals – Bryant. Total fouls – Eaglecrest 22; Monarch 16. Fouled out – Orozco, Fields. Technicals – None.
