Princeton junior guard Rayleigh Williams (3) had a team-high 12 points in a 45-31 loss to Garland on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Photo by Ashley Hudson / C&S Media
By Devin Hasson
The early stages of the basketball season are not always about wins and losses.
Coaches would rather see growth and improvement as teams prepare for the real push for the playoffs with the start of district play.
Princeton showed that at times on Tuesday night.
The Panthers battled a much bigger Garland team for four quarters, and made a push at the end, but a huge first quarter for the Owls was the difference, as they claimed a 45-31 victory at Garland High School, dropping Princeton to 0-2 on the young season.
Both defenses were solid through three quarters, with virtually identical shooting percentage. But the Owls pounded the offensive glass, allowing them to get 20 more shot attempts during that time, while also getting to the free throw line 14 times compared with only six for Princeton.
The Garland defense also had an impact forcing 30 turnovers in the game, including 10 in the opening frame, which was the difference in the game, when Garland outscored the Panthers 19-6 in a run that would decide the game.
The Owls came out hot, as Veralyn Ihematolam set the tone on the boards with a putback to open the scoring, and Sinjay Maxey and Kaylee Stephens followed with 3-pointers to stake them to a quick 8-0 lead.
The early stages did not get any better for Princeton, as Stephens slashed inside for a layup and Maxey and Ihematolam scored inside to push the advantage to 15–2 midway through the frame.
The Panthers did get baskets inside from Jada Childress and She Dairya Gullatt, but they faced a 19-6 deficit at the end of one quarter.
Gullatt and Jalyn Mosley scored inside early in the second quarter to get back to within 12, but those would be the last field goals of the half for Princeton.
The defense, however, allowed the Panthers to stay within striking distance, as they only allowed five points during the final five minutes to keep it at 29-13.
Garland started applying full-court pressure in the third quarter, and it paid off, as it outscored Princeton 9-3. Childress knocked down a 3-pointer for the Panthers’ lone points, and while the Owls were held without a field goal for the final four minutes, Princeton was unable to capitalize, and they trailed 38-16 heading to the fourth.
Another 3-pointer from Stephens gave Garland a 25-point lead early in the final quarter, but the Panthers refused to go away.
Rayleigh Williams, who had a team-high 12 points, knocked down a pair of 3-pointers as part of a quick 7-0 run to get back to within 41-23.
Mosley and Williams got inside for layups, Williams hit a pair of free throws and A’Miracle Jackson drained a shot from the outside to close the gap to 45-31, but that was where it would end.
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