The Thunder Mountain High School girls basketball team proved it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish in a Saturday evening win against Palmer High School.
Despite being outscored 11-3 in the first quarter, and trailing by 11 points in the third, the Lady Falcons came out on the winning end of a 47-40 effort. They’re now 11-4 (1-1 in conference) for the season.
“In the past, these are the games we would have lost,” said coach Andy Lee, in a post-game interview. “The difference is that we showed heart. This was the intangibles. This wasn’t about physical, this was about mental toughness and we’re tough.”
TMHS’ comeback wasn’t defined by a single lopsided quarter or supernova player. The Lady Falcons simply scored consistently, while cutting back on turnovers and defensive miscues that marked the game’s early going.
TMHS scored 14, 16 and 14 points in the second, third and fourth quarter, respectively while holding Palmer to 10 points in the second and third quarters and 8 points in the final frame.
No individual TMHS player reached a double-figure scoring total. However, four did score 9 points in the game.
“You’ve got to love that,” Lee said of the balanced attack.
Freshman Cambry Lockhart sprints down the court during a TMHS home win Saturday night. Lockhart was one of four Lady Falcons to score 9 points. She had a late steal that helped seal the outcome. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The co-leading scorers were freshman Cambry Lockhart, junior Mikah Carandang, sophomore Cailynn Baxter and sophomore Addison Wilson.
Lee had praise for Wilson’s contributions, which don’t always jump out on the score sheet.
“She’s the physician, sometimes, you know ‘do no harm’,” Lee said, beginning an extended metaphor. “She does no harm, and then, she surgically strikes. She comes down, she gets a layup, she gets you a free throw, she creates a turnover. So she’s our Swiss Army knife right now.”
The TMHS girls will now get a few days to prepare to host perennial powerhouse Wasilla High School at 7 p.m. Friday and 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
“We’re going to be ready,” Lee said.
An ascending Kerra Baxter Baxter hooks her arm to roll the ball off of her fingertips and into the hoop during a Friday night home win against Palmer High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A big win for the home crowd
The Thunder Mountain High School girls scored at least a dozen points in all but one quarter en route to a commanding 55-32 win against Palmer High School on Friday night.
The win is the Lady Falcons 10th of the season, snapping a three-game losing streak, improving their record to 10-4 (1-1 in conference).
After securing a rebound, TMHS junior Ashlyn Gates gets ready to rise for a shot at the basket. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
“I like the fact that we got everybody in the game,” said coach Andy Lee following the home win. “Not only did we get everybody in the game, but I felt that everybody had a moment that they can hang their hat on.”
TMHS was led in scoring by sophomore Kerra Baxter, who finished the game with 20 points. She was one of three TMHS players to reach double figures with junior Mikah Carandang chipping in 16 and sophomore Cailynn Baxter scoring 10.
“We love playing at home,” Lee said. “I love the crowd energy.”
TMHS’ Kerra Baxter shoots over her defender during a Friday night home win against Palmer. Baxter finished the game with a team-leading 20 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau empire)
• Contact Ben Hohenstatt at (907)308-4895 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.
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