Big Pine girls’ hoops off to 2-0 start

With five returning starters and four first-year players, Lady Warrior coach Dave Mettam is a happy man. The win over the Lee Vining Tigers wasn’t pretty, with first game nerves and too many turnovers, but the Warriors pulled it out, taking an early lead and never giving it up despite a Tiger surge in the fourth quarter.

Twenty-four hours later, Big Pine was on the court against the Desert Mountain League Huskies, but the nerves were gone and the action improved on both offense and defense.

“This was a total team win and good for our development this season,” said Mettam. “I’m happy with our progress.”

The first quarter of Monday’s contest at home was a low-scoring affair, ending with a 4-2 lead by Big Pine.

Sophomore Morgan Bailey opened the second quarter with 2 of her game-high 8 points. The Tigers stayed close, but Warriors Paaku’u Dewey and Lauren Simpson turned on the after-burners in the final minute of the half to give Big Pine its biggest lead, 14-7. Ana-Kee Mason was lethal on the boards with a game-high 13 rebounds.

Kaylee Simpson put up Big Pine’s only third quarter point from the free throw line; the Warriors’ eight-minute slump allowed the Tigers to draw to within 2 at 15-13.

The teams swapped points for the first six minutes of the final quarter, with Big Pine holding its 2-point advantage until Lauren Simpson hit a free throw to put the Warriors ahead 20-17.

After multiple time-outs and strategizing in the final 90 seconds, CJ LaFrombois went to the free throw line to put Big Pine ahead by 3 at 22-19. The Warriors wisely slowed the pace of the game, keeping the Tigers at bay for the win.

Tuesday in Mammoth, the Warriors held the Huskies 6-2 in the first quarter. Mammoth drew to within 2 at the half, but Big Pine kept up the pressure for the 28-21 win.