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Lady Tigers experience growing pains

JOSH SALERNOSummit Daily News
Summit Daily/Eric Drummond
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FARMER’S KORNER – Lady Tigers basketball coach Dylan Hollingsworth knew from the start of the season his team’s toughest obstacle would be its youth and SHS’ inexperience showed Saturday in a 50-34 loss to Denver Christian.The Tigers (1-4), who have just two seniors on their roster, committed 25 turnovers against the Crusaders, who improved to 4-1. “We have to start doing the small things right.” Hollingsworth said. “That’s a part of our youth. They have to believe what I’m telling them to do is right. It can’t be a sometime thing, it has to be an all-the-time thing.”Another noticeable sign of SHS’ youth was the team’s shot selection. The Tigers took numerous turbulent shots with defenders in their faces, leaving wide open team members to watch.”First of all, we’ve got to make some shots,” Hollingsworth said. “When our shot selection gets better, we’ll get better offensively. It’s tough for the younger girls because they would normally be playing JV and would learn those skills in that time. They don’t have that luxury.”With one game remaining before the holiday break, Hollingsworth said he will ask more of co-captains Alyssa Tallmadge and Katie Sodergren as far as leading the inexperienced team into the new year.

“We as a team need to work on communication,” said Tallmadge, who finished with 11 points and three steals. “We need to focus more on picking each other up and not putting our heads down.”Hollingsworth did single out several sophomores, for making giant strides already this season. Jeana Holman, a 5-foot-11 forward, who contributed seven points, seven rebounds and three assists on Saturday, was one of them.”I feel like we have a really good team,” Holman said. “(Tallmadge and Sodergren) teach us everything. I think each game, the whole team is getting better. It may not seem like it sometimes, but I believe we are.”SHS allowed the Crusaders to open up a 12-2 lead and trailed 25-15 at the half. The Tigers tried to initiate a late comeback during the fourth quarter. Sophomore Julie Oberriter delivered assists to Holman and Tallmadge in the post. Jaclin Limone pick-pocketed two Denver Christian ball handlers and drove the court for easy layups.The Crusaders found a way to soften the Tigers’ pounce, however, dishing the ball to Lindsay Landhuis in the post for three quick scores to end the SHS rally.

With one game left before the holiday break, Hollingsworth said the upcoming layoff is both a good and bad thing.”The downside is that you want to continue to build,” Hollingsworth said. “It also will give the girls time to step back and look at the whole picture. Hopefully they can gain some focus on themselves during that time.” The team will host Skyview at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.SHS falls to Adams CityThe SHS boys basketball team gave 5A Adams City High School all it could handle Saturday, before falling to the Eagles 63-45.”That’s a pretty tough loss,” said Dan Marion, whose team picked up its first win of the season against Jefferson on Friday. “They came at us strong, we stuck with them pretty good for the first three quarters, but couldn’t stick with them (in the fourth quarter).”



The Tigers trailed 23-22 at halftime letting Adams City jump out to an early 12-2 lead in the first three minutes of play. Joe Felton scored 15 of his 20 points in the first half.Ryan George hit two shots from behind the arc and SHS took a 28-25 lead with 5:55 left in third. The Eagles answered with a 14-2 run, before Tony Madonna netted a 25-footer as the third quarter expired. The Tigers were within three points after Ryan George sank a free throw, but Adams City put the game out of reach during the final minutes.”We’re taking big steps,” Marion said. “We’re young and learning, but I think we’re heading in the right direction.”Josh Salerno can be contacted at (970) 668-4633, or at jsalerno@summitdaily.com.


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