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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Defense prevails in win for English Valleys girls
Young English Valleys team now 7-2 on the season
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
NORTH ENGLISH — The English Valleys’ girls basketball team came into this season with only nine varsity players, all underclassmen.
Following Tuesday night’s 34-24 win over BGM, this young Bears team is now 7-2.
“Just having nine players, there’s a bond right there no one can break,” said English Valleys guard Addison Achenbach. “We’re in other sports together, so we’ve been able to have that bond going in too.”
It was English Valleys’ full-court pressure and defense that carried the team to victory in this low-scoring affair.
BGM’s Karagyn Minnaert hit consecutive threes to start the game, and after that, it was full-court pressure the rest of the game. Karagyn had eight of BGM’s nine first quarter points.
“Pressing is hard and it takes a lot (of effort and energy),” said Addison Achenbach. But the Bears played team defense and were able to steal the ball many time.
After a quarter, English Valleys led 10-9.
After being down 7-3, Anna Luers scored back-to-back baskets off steals. Luers leads the team in steals, and continued to grab the ball Tuesday night.
Addison Achenbach knocked in her second three of the game to start the second for English Valleys.
The halftime score was 19-14.
The third quarter was the lowest-scoring quarter of the game. Each team scored only three points.
Shaye Strong scored all three for BGM.
Kaylynn Caster scored six of her eight points in the fourth for English Valleys as the lead grew as high as 13 before reaching the final difference of 10.
Karagyn Minnaert contributed a game-high 13 points for BGM.
English Valleys had two in double figures. Addison Achenbach had 11, Luers 10.
It wasn’t the prettiest of victories, but English Valleys found a way to win when shots were not falling.
“I think just confidence in ourselves and keeping each other up and our heads high really helps us with motivation,” said Addison Achenbach on the win.
The win increased English Valleys’ small winning streak to four games.
“Proud of the girls. We missed a lot of layups (tonight), but we were able to hold their score down so I was really happy with that,” English Valleys coach Jeff Miller said.
“They played together as a team.”
