Sigourney runs past Demons

WASHINGTON - When one girl scores more than half of a team's points, it could be a great night for her, could be, but wasn't. When two girls score 88 percent of a team's points, it could be a great night, could be and was.

Anna Nacos had 16 of Washington's 26 points Monday in a nonconference basketball game while Kaylee Weber (18 points) and Carly Goodwin (19) combined for 37 of Sigourney's 42 points in the visitors 42-26 victory.

'When Carly can shoot like that it opens up the inside for us,” Sigourney head coach Zach Tremmel said. 'We have a couple of big girls that when they get a little help on the perimeter, they are tough to guard.”

Goodwin hit four 3-pointers to help Weber, who also stepped out to nail a pair of triples as well.

Neither team could score early as the first period ended at 5-3 for the visitors. Makenna Conrad hit a 3-pointer with 1 minute, 32 seconds left in the first half for the only tie of the game at 11-11. Sigourney scored the last three points of the half and the first seven of the third quarter to lead by 10. Nacos scored five straight for a 21-16 score but it was 31-19 by the end of the quarter.

'This is the best game Anna has played and with each game, she is figuring out how to play with this group,” WHS head coach Shannon Rugg said. 'She played really well and we expect that or better out of her every night.”

Nacos had three points at halftime but finished with 16. Makenna Conrad connected on a trey and had five points. Alex Murphy scored three and Kaylin Long two. Nacos and Murphy had seven rebounds apiece. Josie Tanner had six steals and Elyse Hunt three.

Nacos stepped up her defense and snagged three steals in the second half that led to fast break points. She also hit a 3-pointer.

'(Nacos) is very aggressive and put a lot of pressure on our guards,” Tremmel said. 'She's good at being able to sneak through the defense and sliver her way in for a shot.”

Washington had few wide-open shots as the Sigourney defense was quick to close out.

'We knew they were small and that 60 percent of their shots are from the 3-point line, so our defense was very good when we had to cover the perimeter,” Tremmel said.

Rugg said his team will continue to work hard in practice.

'We're changing the way things are done here, so it's a process and we are getting better even if our record may not show it. Defensively, our intensity is getting better and better and the offense will come.”

Sigourney is 3-1 and plays at Keota tonight while Washington is 0-5 and hosts Mt. Pleasant Friday.