Summit’s Megan McDonnell breaks single-game scoring record in win over Glenwood
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Summit's Megan McDonnell (11) goes after a rebound against Eagle Valley at home earlier this season. The senior captain set the Summit High School single-game scoring record on Jan. 26, putting up 27 points in the Tigers' 67-36 win over Glenwood Springs.
Louie Traub / Special to the Daily |
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Summit's Alex O'Neal (15) drives down the court during the Tigers' home game against Glenwood Springs on Jan. 26. The boy's team lost, 72-57, while the girl's team won thanks to a record-setting 27 points from senior captain Megan McDonnell.
Phil Lindeman / plindeman@summitdaily.com |
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Summit's Sam Hull (44) puts up a shot during the Tigers' home game against Glenwood Springs earlier this week, caught by @sumcosports
Phil Lindeman / plindeman@summitdaily.com |
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Summit's Jack Anderson (22) fights for a lane past a Glenwood Springs defender during the Tigers' home game on Jan. 26. The boy's team lost, 72-57, while the girl's team won thanks to a record-setting 27 points from senior captain Megan McDonnell.
Phil Lindeman / plindeman@summidaily.com |
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Summit's Luke Notaro (12) defends a Glenwood Springs forward during the Tigers' home game on Jan. 26, shot by @sumcosports
Phil Lindeman / plindeman@summitdaily.com |
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The Summit boy's varsity basketball team huddles during a timeout at a home game against Glenwood Springs on Jan. 26. The boy's team lost, 72-57, while the girl's team won thanks to a record-setting 27 points from senior captain Megan McDonnell.
Phil Lindeman / plindeman@summitdaily.com |
FRISCO — Megan McDonnell was too much for the Demons to handle.
On Tuesday evening, the senior captain led her varsity team to a 67-32 shellacking over Glenwood Springs (3-11 overall, 2-6 league) at home. She nearly could’ve beat them singlehandedly: At the final buzzer, she had put up 27 points to set a new Summit High School single-game record for girl’s basketball.
“Everything was going well with every player,” head coach Colton St. Peter said after the win. “It’s hard to stop a team when you get on a roll, and we were bringing pressure better than we have this season.”
The girls win comes less than a week after the team suffered a heartbreaker at Glenwood, 38-34. He says his team was deflated after the loss, but everyone was ready to rally behind McDonnell and a strong bench for the rematch at home.
“When we went to Glenwood, they were ready to take us in mentally,” he said. “They had the right attitude and came out strong, and we were just timid. Today, the girls were ready to go right away, and we caught them off guard. When they wanted to come back we were just rolling too strong.”
Along with McDonnell, fellow forward Kate Tomlinson was a bright spot in the starting lineup and had a stellar night after several weeks of underwhelming play, putting up a career-high 18 points. Sophomore Cassidy Bargell and junior Natalie Gray were clutch bench players, and just about everyone was making shots when they touched the ball — not just when their backs were against the wall.
The girl’s team looked feisty, fiery and ready to fight. It’s the sort of mentality St. Peter and his team want to carry into the last few games of the season: play hard from start to finish, every game, no matter who takes the court.
“We talked in the locker room about what went right, and everyone agreed: We have to be ready to feed off this and play this way,” he said. “You need to look at it as the individual opponent, not their reputation or their wins or shooting percentage. We have to play a different game than we have this season.”
The girl’s team is now 6-8 overall and 2-6 in the 4A Western Slope. They next face No. 2 Rifle (10-3, 6-1) at home on Friday.
Tough night for the boys
The boy’s hoops team took the hardwood after the girls in hopes of another redemption game. They also lost to Glenwood (8-6 overall, 6-2 league) less than a week ago, an 86-59 drubbing away from home and desperately needed to take at least one from the Demons, who were tied for third in the 4A Slope with Palisade behind undefeated No. 1 Rifle.
The game started promising, as the Tigers stayed neck and neck with the Demons right until the final 1:30 when Glenwood held onto a timid two-point lead. That’s when Demons superstar Cameron Horning kicked into overdrive and led his team on a 6-0 run to end the quarter 16-11.
The Tigers never rebounded from the momentum shift and entered the second quarter flat, giving up points early and often to end the first half down, 40-28. The Demons stayed at least eight points ahead for the remainder of the game. They sunk free throws when it mattered and had a knack for turning rebounds into points.
It wasn’t all missed opportunities and sloppy penalties. Summit managed to outscore Glenwood by two in the third quarter, but after giving up 24 points in the second the hole was too deep. The boys ended the game 72-57. The silver lining behind the score: at least the defense managed to avoid another 80-plus point loss.
The loss puts the boys at 1-13 overall and 1-7 in the 4A Slope. The next game is a tough one against league-leading Rifle (12-1, 7-0) at home on Friday.
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