Inexperience, defense lead to Demon defeat

WASHINGTON - Washington High School coach Shannon Rugg hasn't had a team that works as hard in practice as the 2020-21 Demon girls basketball team has to this point. Hard work ultimately will see a pay off but there is a journey to travel to arrive at that point.

Monday an experienced Centerville team that was 16-6 last year continually attacked the basket and the result was a 64-43 nonconference win for the Big Red over the Demons.

The journey Washington is traveling was one step away from getting a good shot, one step away from a good pass, one step from getting a rebound, just one step short, but in a lot of places. And that adds up to a lot of steps.

'That one step is one we have to get to and it would've made a lot of difference for us tonight, but when you have a young group, that one step is the hardest one to get to,” Rugg said.

Washington has Anna Nacos and Josie Tanner as the only seniors. A young team can be inconsistent, playing well then having letdowns.

The first and second halves were an example of that. The Demons trailed 11-7 after the first quarter and 27-22 at halftime, then Tanner sank a triple 15 seconds into the second half to make the score 27-25. By the end of the quarter, it was a 44-31 deficit and the fourth quarter started on a 13-1 Big Red run.

'We like going to the hole hard and think we can do some special things with our size and our two guards,” CHS head coach Nic Belloma said. 'I thought Washington did a good job of defending us in the first half.”

Rachel George (6-foot-1), Claire George (6-0) and Kyla Moore (6-2) combined for 24 Big Red points while guards Claire Mathews and Mickey Stephens also combined for 24.

'They came out aggressive and we did not get to that aggressiveness that we needed in the second half,” Rugg said.

The Demons were good on offense in the opening half with four different shooters connecting five times from long range on 3-pointers. Makenna Conrad's triple tied the game at 22.

While the Demons nearly matched their first half with 21 in the second half, the defense was not up to the task.

'We worked really hard as a team on offense but we need better defense to get back and stop them from getting layups,” Washington's leading scorer in the game Greta Rothe said. 'We needed to go as hard in the second half like we did in the first half.”

Rothe hit three from deep on her way to 13 points. Tanner had six points and three rebounds in the game. Nacos made two triples, scoring 11 points with four rebounds and four assists. Alex Murphy had seven rebounds and five points.

Beside 22-all, the game was tied at 3-3 and Washington was within two at 9-7, 21-19 and 27-25 but never led.

'I like what Washington is doing and thought they gave us a nice game for as many young kids as they have,” Belloma said. 'I was a little frustrated at halftime with our mental focus and I thought Washington caused that.”

Centerville's record is 2-0, Washington 0-3.

The Demons played in new uniforms with eye-catching stripes on the side. They will get another chance to wear them as Pella (1-2) comes to town for a boy/girl doubleheader tonight.

Washington home events are livestreamed and the link is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtGLUCdnXeKchlbJaFh8zmg

'We will get better,” Rugg said. 'I thought our first half was the best half we played so far. We are small and inexperienced but we are quick and athletic.”