By Luke Nadkarni / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
Following a 69-15 win over Norfolk Academy on Friday in its opening game of its own tip-off tournament, the St. Anne’s-Belfield girls basketball team picked up right where it left off Saturday in a 75-33 thrashing of visiting Atlantic Shores.
Marilyn Steppe had 25 points, 17 of them in the first half, to lead the Saints in the decisive victory. Brianna Tinsley added 19 and Ashley Taylor scored 13 for STAB, which didn’t allow the Seahawks to score until late in the first quarter. Atlantic Shores, which trailed 41-6 at halftime, didn’t get its first basket until late in the opening period and didn’t score again until two free throws from Miglija Zalkauskaite more than halfway through the second quarter.
“With your own tournament, you schedule to help yourself,” STAB head coach Phil Stinnie said. “It’s called ‘tip-off’ for a reason. You work on things, you see your strengths and weaknesses. We went in today worrying about how we would play — aggressive defense and using our speed to get up and down the floor.”
The Saints’ lead grew to as large as 49 points before Stinnie toned down the tenacious defense that frustrated Atlantic Shores into frequent turnovers leading to fast-break baskets for St. Anne’s.
“Coming into the game, we respect our opponent, but we focus on what we need to do,” Stinnie said. “If we take care of the things we need to do, we’re going to be successful.”
Carlicia Harden led the Seahawks with 16 points, the only player on her team to score in double figures. She was named to the all-tournament team along with teammate Michelle Fried. For the Saints, Tinsley and Sierra Smith were named to the team, while Steppe took tournament MVP honors.
The Saints (3-0) return to action Tuesday when they travel to St. Gertrude’s.
