SHS Rolls, 71-32

Posted: January 25, 2013

SHS’s Bailey Williams drives as TA’s Sydney Sheffer defends in the Trailblazers’ win Thursday night. (Photo by Michael Reilly / DN-R)
BRIDGEWATER — When the scoreboard turned off briefly with about four minutes remaining, Turner Ashby High School girls’ basketball coach Rob Lovell happily offered his assistance at the scorer’s table.

“It’s 39-38 us,” he joked.

Plagued by injuries all season and going up against area power Spotswood, Lovell still had his sense of humor intact.

Shooting a blistering 74 percent from the floor in the first half and 57 percent for the game (including 10-of-16 from beyond the arc), the Trailblazers coasted past the overmatched Knights 71-32 on Thursday night, improving to 17-1 overall and 8-0 in the Valley District.

“It was exciting because Tuesday we didn’t have the best game, so I think we were really ready to play and redeem ourselves,” SHS senior guard Bailey Williams, who had a game-high 20 points on eight field goals, including four 3-pointers. “

The shooting effort was even more impressive given that SHS coach Chris Dodson emptied the bench on a couple of occasions, including with 3:58 left in the third quarter and again with 4:23 remaining in the game.

“We’ve really been doing a lot of shooting drills,” Dodson said, referencing drills he borrowed online from the University of Maryland. “… Nikki Lam came in and lit it up, Brooke McGloon hits one — it really didn’t matter who was on the floor in the first half.”

Junior forward Tayler Dodson added 14 points for Spotswood and tied Williams with five assists, doing most of her damage from the foul line (8-of-13).

“I thought it was the most aggressive she’s been all year,” Chris Dodson said of his daughter.

Only one other Blazer attempted a free throw: McGloon with 1:31 left in the third.

Still playing without senior guard Abby Cleaver — who has been out for nearly two weeks with concussion symptoms — TA (2-15, 1-8) got a lift from senior guard Kaitlin Keeley (team-high eight points) and junior forward Bre Bosley off the bench.

“I’m really proud of how positive they stayed,” Lovell said of his Knights. “… Bre Bosley, a kid that’s diving on the floor after a loose ball with about a minute to go down 40, just showed tremendous heart.”

SPOTSWOOD

Williams 8 0-0 20, Lindsay 3 0-0 6, Dofflemyer 4 0-0 10, Dodson 3 8-13 14, Propes 2 0-0 4, Lam 3 0-0 9, Jenkins 1 0-0 2, McGloon 2 1-2 6. Totals 26 9-15 71.

TURNER ASHBY

Sheffer 2 2-3 6, Dean 0 2-4 2, Witt 2 1-2 5, Wood 0 1-2 1, LaPrade 2 2-2 6, Keeley 4 0-0 8, Bosley 2 0-0 4. Totals 12 8-13 32.

Spotswood         24    25    12    10 - 71    
Turner Ashby       9       5      8    10 - 32 
   

3-Point Goals—SHS 10 (Williams 4, Lam 3, Dofflemyer 2, McGloon), TA 0. Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—SHS 32 (Dodson 8), TA 23 (Witt 6). Total Fouls—SHS 13, TA 12.