When an opposing team comes out deliberately trying to stall, you need a steady hand at point guard to keep your squad from accelerating too quickly when you do get the ball. The point guard has to keep the squad focused on the gameplan and prevent a meltdown caused by frustration with the delay game.
Emily Marbury did all those things Tuesday night when the Warriors knocked off Fluvanna County 40-26 in the Region II, Division 3 quarterfinals.
“Emily is all those things,” said Western Albemarle coach Kris Wright. “This year she’s been an outstanding leader and she’s been cool calm and collected.”
Marbury helped coordinate Western’s defensive attack and The Warriors refused to sit back and let Fluvanna burn the clock, coming out and attacking the delay game near half court. While Fluvanna got several easy buckets off the pressure as guard Ashleigh Harris attacked the basket Western got the better of the Flucos, building a narrow 20-16 halftime lead.
The Warriors eventually extended that advantage during the fourth quarter as Fluvanna went cold from the field and allowed Western to pull away.
“You can’t be passive against (the stall) because that plays into what they’re trying to do,” Wright said. “We decided that we would come out and pressure it and then do the best we could to contain it when they tried to beat us off the dribble.”
Fluvanna first employed the stall a week earlier in the Jefferson District semifinals against Monticello and got decent results in a close game against the Mustangs, who finished unbeaten in Jefferson District play. But with fewer possessions, the Flucos needed to shoot better from the field to take full advantage of the system and they couldn’t in the second half.
“It’s a good experience for the girls,” said Fluvanna coach Chad White. “We’re very young and it shows some times but the future is bright. The biggest thing is we’ve got to come out in the summer and work and try and get better.”
Rachel Cooke led the Western offense with 12 points and Western took advantage of Bridgett Shaffrey’s height down low where the senior piled up nine points. Harris led the Flucos with 11 on the night, including three 3-pointers. She also broke the school’s career steals record.
Western advances to the Region II, Division 3 semifinals where they’ll face John Handley.
