Defensive pressure, scoring propel York to win
If first-year Lady Cougar head basketball coach Marilyn Milton had her way, defensive intensity and balanced scoring would lead to victory.
Monday night, Milton’s wishes were granted as York defeated Union County 73-27.
With junior guard Makala Love providing the offensive punch, the Lady Cougars assumed control from the outset.
After converting two technical free throws to start the game, Love scored on a follow-up and another free throw for a 5-0 York lead.
Sophomore guard Natalee Graham scored off a steal and the YCHS team was up 7-0.
Junior power forward Heather Pumphrey helped build York’s 18-7 first-quarter lead.
In the second quarter, the Lady Cougars expanded its lead.
Junior guard Corri Peeler ended the first half with a foul and sunk a three-pointer that pushed York ahead 39-13 at the break.
In the fourth quarter, Graham scored 10 of her game-high 16 points off passes from her teammates.
“Tonight, after coming off that two-point loss in overtime right before Thanksgiving, one of the things we wanted to focus on was going into the next game with high intensity defensively as well as scoring very well offensively,” said Milton. “We had very balanced scoring. One of our focuses was after every time out was not to sacrifice defense for offense.”
Added Milton: “The last two games, we’ve had a lot of players that contributed. We have some people who are scoring in double figures and some who are close to double figures. That’s what we want.
“We want a team effort. We don’t have any person who is just an outstanding, dominating scorer and we want to keep it that way.”
Peeler offered her impressions of Monday night’s win.
“I feel that we came together more as a team and we had the determination to bounce back from the loss we had against Buford,” she said.
Peeler said most practices are devoted to defensive improvement.
“Not only just the defense that we use in a game, but defensive skills,” said Peeler. “We work on that for a very long time and it does show tremendously in the games.”
Graham echoed Peeler’s sentiments.
“It was a great win, especially after the loss by two points,” said Graham. “It was good to come back and beat Union by that many.”
She thanked her teammates.
“I couldn’t have scored the points tonight if it wasn’t for my teammates giving me good passes,” said Graham. “When I get into a rhythm, my teammates know whoever’s hot on the court, just pass it to them.”
Others who scored Monday night were Love and Pumphrey, each with 12, Peeler, 11, Akiesha McClure, 9, and Meg McGarity 7.
Prior to the Lady Cougars’ 42-40 overtime loss to Buford in last week’s preseason tournament, they defeated Pelion 62-24 in the opening game.
Freshman Ramsey Green scored a career-high 17 points in her first varsity game and sophomore post player Sara Morris scored a career-high 12 points in her first varsity game.
Rounding out the scoring, Love had 10 points, Graham 9, Peeler 6, McClure 4, McGarity 3 and Holly Wilson 1.
This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 11:07 AM with the headline "Defensive pressure, scoring propel York to win."