Employing an aggressive defensive posture that shut out Cedar Park Vista Ridge for almost 11 minutes spanning the middle two quarters, the Lady Tigers pulled away to a 47-34 season-opening victory over the Lady Rangers.
“With our defense, we saw kids flying after passes, scrambling for loose balls and going hard,” Belton coach Randy Bell said. “That’s where we’re going to have to go to get things done.”
Belton scored 16 consecutive points from the beginning of the second quarter until 3 minutes into the second half. That run carried the Lady Tigers from a 12-6 first-quarter deficit to a 22-12 lead.
“That first 3 minutes of the third quarter where we got some quick steals and easy layups allowed us to get some separation,” Bell said.
Hailey Rosebrock hit a bank shot with 1:10 left in the half to give the lady Tigers a 14-12 lead they carried into halftime.
The Lady Tigers’ defense hassled the Lady Rangers, not allowing them to get off a shot in the first 2 minutes of the second half. Meghan Braeuer converted a pair of layups, Aynsley Young made a layin and free throws by Young and Brystal Holcombe helped kickstart the Lady Tigers’ offense with an 8-0 run to open the second half.
Belton kept it rolling during a 23-point third quarter with 10-of-15 shooting to boost its lead to 37-18. Kimesha Scott, Braeuer and Young combined for 20 of those points.
Braeuer led the Lady Tigers with 13 points, followed by 11 for Young and 10 for Scott. Courtney Foster paced Vista Ridge with 14.
Belton will join Temple in hosting the Dr Pepper Chisholm Trail Classic Thursday through Saturday. The Lady Tigers will open play at 7 p.m. Thursday against Mart at Tiger Gym.
“Any time you get a win to start the season it’s good,” Bell said. “Defensively I like what I’m seeing. Offensively we’re struggling and we’re too one-dimensional. We’ve got to move it around more and use the whole court.”
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