Eagle’s Maiden Voyage Successful At Cda First-Year Meridian School Downs Vikings In Girls’ Basketball Opener

Eagle capitalized on a third quarter breakdown by Coeur d’Alene en route to a 57-42 girls basketball victory at Vikings Gym in Friday night’s season opener for each team.

The win was also a bit historic for the Mustangs, a first-year school in Meridian, who outscored the Vikings 14-4 in that decisive third quarter.

Eagle visits Lake City today at 2:30 p.m. Coeur d’Alene entertains Centennial of Boise at the same time.

“I think we let down more than they played better,” said second-year Coeur d’Alene coach Sheila Sharp. “The third quarter we didn’t play. That’s a team we can beat if we play four quarters.”

Rebounding and free-throw shooting helped Eagle to a 26-23 halftime lead.

The Mustangs made just 6 of 29 first-half field goals, but hit 14 of 21 free throws, including 11 of 16 in the second quarter.

Fifteen of Eagle’s 24-first half rebounds were off the offensive glass.

Senior guard Barbie Ramsey’s two free throws with 1:30 left in the second quarter gave the Mustangs the lead for keeps.

“They got a lot of offensive boards, especially on the weak side that gave them a second opportunity to put them in,” Sharp said. “We just need to be a little bit smarter on defense and not get those quick, dumb fouls.”

Coeur d’Alene connected on just 2 of 20 third-quarter field goals and went on a 6-minute scoring lapse to fall behind 40-27. That was as close as it would get.

Eagle was led by Ramsey’s 18 points and 11 rebounds. Ramsey knocked down 10 of 12 free throws. Junior Tabitha Dawson added 11 points, with 5-foot-10 post Samantha Jarvis grabbing 14 rebounds.

The Mustangs were 15 of 54 from the field and 25 of 38 from the line.

“We try to work on our free throws,” Eagle coach Bob Brunzell said. “We do some free-throw drills. They’d rather make free throws than run. They’re real positive and work hard.

“We try to put a lot of pressure on the ball, trying to make them make bad passes,” Brunzell added.

The Mustangs’ half-court defensive pressure forced Coeur d’Alene to commit 18 of its 28 turnovers in the second and third quarters.

Coeur d’Alene got 13 points and eight rebounds from senior forward Jill Pederson. Guard Amber Orr added 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Vikings shot 18 of 58 from the field.

Eagle 57, CdA 42

Eagle 11 15 14 17 - 57

Coeur d’Alene 11 12 4 15 - 42

EAGLERamsey 18, Dawson 11, Gerosin 2, Vail 4, Potts 4, Jarvis 5, Rogers 5, Peterson 8.

COEUR d’ALENEChambers 0, Orr 10, Pederson 13, Cultra 4, Stolp 0, Wilkey 2, Stern 2, Janke 0, Pearson 3, Hansen 8.