Defending District 20-5A champions Westside took on the area’s No. 1 ranked team, Bellaire, Tuesday night at Butler Field House. Both teams hit the court and proved why they are the leading contenders in Houston but for the undefeated (19-0) Cardinals this 57-44 win was just another step to taking Westside’s title.
Bellaire’s Tamara Torru and Tammara Maroin started the game off with three’s but the Wolves were unfazed as they pushed the ball up the court and Jasmine Hoskins tied the score and gave Westside the lead. The Cardinals would not let the Wolves enjoy the lead long as Torru and Courtney Dunhan hit from behind the arc to end the quarter leading 15-11.
The Cardinals initiated their press in the second quarter but the Wolves found ways to work around it as they went on a seven-point run to regain an 18-15 lead. Bellaire once again did not stay quiet for long, they found their outlets and put up several fast break points. The Wolves and the Cardinals hit the boards hard, fighting for the lead as they entered the locker rooms and as both teams followed each others shot the Cardinals squeezed by to hold a 21-20 point lead to end the half.
Cardinals coach Mike Kramer found depth in his bench as he began making adjustments in the third quarter. Bellaire’s Dunham, Taylor McGilbra, and Jade Handy recharged the Cardinals as they pulled away from the Wolves and held them to only nine points. Bellaire began to find their shot and give themselves second chances as they closed the quarter leading 42-29.
Westside found themselves in the bonus as the fourth quarter but that did not slow down their intensity as they started to play catch-up. Ariel Jones hit three straight baskets and Donna Dike found the bottom of the net as they closed the gap. The Wolves fought back to come within ten but their double bonus fouls kept the Cardinals on the line where they were able to secure the win.
“Everybody we play plays hard,” Kramer said. “We got a lot from our bench, our bench play is the one that really got this thing going for us.”
Dunham and Torru led Bellaire with 10 points each.
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