Tanner’s career-high difference in win

BURLINGTON - Josie Tanner netted a career high in points for the Washington girls basketball team Monday to help the Demons secure their first win in nine tries.

Washington eked out a 53-52 win in the Southeast Conference game. Trailing 14-11 after a quarter, Washington led 27-24 at halftime. A 15-9 Burlington advantage in the third gave the Grayhounds a 39-36 lead starting the final quarter.

Anna Nacos scored a game-high 23 points for Washington while Alexis Standard went for 20 Burlington points.

Tanner netted 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting that included 4-of-9 on 3-pointers.

'Josie Tanner might be the best shooter that I've ever coached in my 30-some years,” Washington coach Shannon Rugg said. 'She can flat-out shoot the basketball when she's ready to shoot it. Since I've taken over, she's been in the gym shooting.”

Nacos was 5-for-9 from the field but more importantly went 11-for-12 at the foul line.

'Anna knows we're going to go to her late in the game and she knows free throws win basketball games,” Rugg said. 'She knows it and she loves it and she does a great job of handling it.”

Gretta Rothe and Alexandria Murphy each scored four points and Ava Turner two.

'This group has been great to work with. We were 0-8 coming into this, but they show up to practice every single day and their attitudes have been great. They deserve to win this game just because of their attitude and how great of kids they are. I can't be happier for a group of girls.”

'Our two seniors played outstanding,” Rugg said of Nacos and Tanner. 'We needed every single point from them. Those two have done a great job with this young group of girls. I'm extremely proud of those two.”