By Michael Carman
Peninsula Daily News
PORT TOWNSEND — Neah Bay struggled against Burlington-Edison’s pressure defense and the Tigers’ size inside in a 79-44 girls basketball defeat at the Crush in the Slush tournament at Port Townsend High School on Friday.
Burlington-Edison, a Class 2A school that competes in the rugged Northwest Conference, improved to 2-0 against North Olympic Peninsula competition this season. The Tigers previously dispatched Port Angeles 66-61 at home earlier this month.
“We really had trouble with their press,” Red Devils coach Tina Brown said of Friday’s game. “They pressed us the whole game and we haven’t played a team that has shown us that kind of look so far. So we have to take this as a learning experience and use it to improve.”
When Neah Bay wasn’t making mistakes against the press on offense, the Red Devils had a hard time finding space to pass or shoot against the Tigers’ tight man-to-man halfcourt defense.
“We were impatient and didn’t work our way through our sets,” Brown said.
Neah Bay also had a difficult time matching up against Burlington-Edison’s size inside.
The Tigers boast six players 5-foot-8 or taller, including three 6-footers.
Katie King, a 5-foot-9 post with guard-like skills, penetrated inside for 19 points to lead all scorers.
Grace Dalton, one of the Tigers’ 6-footers, had 11 points, while fellow post Brylee Axelson-Ney added eight.
Cei’J Gagnon had 12 points to lead the Red Devils. Oceanna Aguiree added nine for Neah Bay (4-3).
Brown said eighth-grader Ezrah Ray played well inside in her time on the court for the Red Devils.
“That was good from her,” Brown said. “She doesn’t play afraid.”
Brown said she’s happy to play against bigger schools such as Burlington-Edison.
“There’s no shame in playing up and trying to beat a bigger school,” she said. “Our record may not look that great but I know we will be tested after playing teams like Sequim or La Conner when we get to the postseason.”
The Red Devils played another 2A school, Cedarcrest, Saturday in the Crush in the Slush.
Burlington-Edison 79, Neah Bay 44
Burlington-Edison 27 21 15 16 — 79
Neah Bay 16 10 13 5— 44
Burlington-Edison (79) — King 19, Rasner 12, Dalton 11, Sayer 9, Reinaud-Hinds 9, Axelson-Ney 8, Maskell 5, J. Smith 2, E. Smith 2, Mackenzie 2,
Neah Bay (44) — Gagnon 12, Aguirre 9, A. Greene 5, Ru. Moss 5, L. Greene 4, Ray 4, Ry. Moss 3, Horejsi 2, Yallup.
