Girls Basketball: Heritage Overcomes Early Deficit to Conquer Handley

By Owen Gotimer
Heritage High School student journalist

Leesburg (Dec. 8, 2010) - The high school girls basketball season may only be a week old but Heritage has already played five games as the Pride improved to 3-2 on the young season after overcoming an early deficit in a 54-51 non-district win over Handley Tuesday night.

The visiting Judges led 10-0 before Heritage even got on the scoreboard, and Handley went into the second quarter up 11-3.

The Pride, however, came out strong in the second, as a pair of sophomores -- Breana Smart and Mackenzie Moore -- took over the offensive game. Smart posted 10 in the quarter while Moore scored six, and both the tempo and control of the game turned to Heritage's favor, as the Pride chiseled the first quarter deficit down to just two at the half, 29-27.

A strong, aggressive press employed by Heritage in the second half led to seven steals in the third quarter and also forced the Judges to take off balance shots on the run. Heritage, led by Moore, shot 7 of 13 from the field in the quarter to take a 42-29 lead into the final quarter.

The two teams battled evenly in the fourth quarter as lead went back and forth.

With just under two minutes left Heritage went up one point and continued the defensive pressure eventually causing a turnover.

The Pride controlled the ball for the remaining minute and a half, until Handley finally fouled junior Laura Nibbelink, with one tenth of a second left. Nibbelink calmly knocked down both free throws to wrap up the Pride’s third victory of the season, 54-51.

Quietly scoring for the Pride was freshman Kayla Tibbs, who scored 12 points spread out over the four quarters -- the only Heritage player to score in all four quarters. Tibbs also snatched 10 rebounds, making her the first Heritage player with a double-double on the season.

Heritage Stats
Sydney McDonald – 2 points, 1 rebound, 3 steals, 2 assists
Mackenzie Moore – 11 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals
Laura Nibbelink – 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist
Debbie Reilley – 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Breana Smart – 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
Kayla Tibbs – 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals
Kelsey Tidgewell – 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Kayla Whoolery – 7 points, 1 rebound, 2 steals, 1 assist
Totals – 54 points, 38 rebounds, 16 steals, 6 assists

Handley Stats
Scarlett Hutchins – 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
Shai Moore – 2 points
Tanesha Harris – 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Corin Scott – 22 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Kirsten Ward – 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Jasmine Curtis – 12 points, 14 rebounds, 1 steal