Defensive effort keys Orange win over Western

Orange County used long-range offense and pressure defense to pull away with a big 63-40 Jefferson District girls basketball victory at Western Albemarle on Friday night. Each team came into the game at 2-3 in district play, and the Hornets (8-6, 3-3 JD) pulled to an even .500 mark with the win.

Orange had four players in double figures when all was said and done, and two of those players came off the bench. Starters Jasmine Johnson and Christina Harvey each had strong performances — Johnson hit two trifectas and finished with 12 points while Harvey added 11, nine of which came before halftime.

“We’re really excited that they’re finally getting to that point where they’re playing together and working as a unit rather than as individuals,” Orange coach Lauren Luck said of her team’s balanced attack.

The two teams were even through the first quarter and a half, and that’s when the Hornets began playing tenacious defense and really turned the game around in their favor.

Orange went to a full-court press, which converted the Warriors’ turnovers into high-percentage baskets, and Western just couldn’t seem to adjust. The Hornets went on a 12-2 run over the final four minutes to end the first half, stretching the lead to double digits at 31-20.

Luck said that her team keeps improving each game on the defensive end, something she puts emphasis on in practice.

“[Tonight’s win] was definitely a highlight in terms of their defense,” Luck said. “They did what they were supposed to do and didn’t do what they’re not supposed to.”

Coming off of the bench, Hornets guards Dee Dee Hopkins and Sade Johnson each hit two three-pointers early in the second half. Orange outscored Western 23-10 in the third quarter, pushing the lead to 24. The Hornets connected on seven threes on the night.

Hopkins finished with 10 points and Sade Johnson scored 12. Point guard Skylar Scott also chipped in with nine, all in the first half.

Luck admitted that the Hornets try not to rely on the three-pointer, but is happy that the shots were falling on Friday after a few games of sub-par shooting.

“It’s starting to come back around a little bit,” said Luck. “I told them that it would happen eventually.”

Raven Ward led the Warriors with 10 points, and no other Western player had more than six. After sitting with foul trouble much of the first half, Ellen Shaffrey picked up two quick fouls early in the third quarter to place her back on the bench with four personals.

Warriors coach Kris Wright felt that his team just didn’t have their collective heads in the game — a game that he called the biggest of the season for his players.

“Our body language and our belief in ourselves and each other

didn’t look right from warm-ups,” admitted Wright. “I told the team in the pre-game huddle that they didn’t look ready to play, and asked them to prove me wrong. Unfortunately, I was right.”

Up next for the Hornets is another big game in the district, as they travel to Fluvanna County on Tuesday night. Western (4-8, 2-4) hosts Nelson County on Wednesday, and that contest will be one of only two home games of the final eight for the Warriors.

“If you’re not protecting your home floor, then you’ve got to go make up for it on the road, and that’s not easy to do,” Wright said.