Sports Zone

Pleasant Hill girls roll into league play

PLEASANT HILL – After an up-and-down start through non-league play, the Pleasant Hill Billies girls basketball team found itself on a three-game winning streak heading into Friday’s game against Oakland. Despite trailing by 9 points at halftime, the Billies dominated the second half to win 41-29.

The Billies outscored the Oakers 11-2 in the third quarter, and 14-3 in the fourth. Billies coach Paxton Miller said the comeback was all about the players’ competitive spirit.

“I thought we played hard in the first half, but I thought we were lacking some competitive spirit,” Miller said. “I think there’s a difference between just playing hard, and playing hard with intent. … So we talked at halftime; we didn’t make any adjustments schematically or tactically. We did everything the same in the second half as far as X’s and O’s go, we just talked about competing.”

Notably, the Billies held the Oakers to only two field goals in the second half, as opposed to the 22 points scored in the first half. 

“We came out in full court man-to-man, which to be truthful, we haven’t practiced enough, and so that’s on me,” Miller said. “So then we went back to our zone, which has been really reliable for us both this year and in the past. Last year it was a real staple for us. And who really spearheads that, and gets it going, is Brooke Weimer at the top with a bunch of length and really good instincts.”

No.24 Brooke Weimer owns her zone and helps the Billies with their reliable formation to press.
CRAIG STROBECK / THE CHRONICLE

Another vital factor in Pleasant Hill’s comeback was senior Claire Crawford. Crawford scored eight straight points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. 

“It’s one of those things, as a coach you almost take for granted. She’s just so consistent and reliable, and obviously she played a huge part (tonight.) And that’s the thing about Claire, as far as confidence goes, and her teammates’ confidence in her goes, that’s something that she’s really come into,” Miller said. “That confidence comes from preparation. If you prepare the right way, you’re gonna be confident, but it’s something you have to earn.”

No.35 Claire Crawford scored 19 points and 9 rebounds for the Billies on Friday.

Crawford wasn’t the only player providing a spark, as fellow senior Cheyenne Green recorded two blocks and a handful of rebounds.

“Cheyenne’s just been rock solid,” Miller said. “She works her butt off in practice, she’s really high energy, and she has just really bought into what we’re trying to do.”

Green with her “high energy” and hard work helped the Billies defensively on Friday.
CRAIG STROBECK / THE CHRONICLE PHOTO

Pleasant Hill heads into league play on a four-game winning streak. Miller said he wants the girls to focus on playing their game.

“It’s been a very up-and-down non-league. But if you look at our schedule … we’ve played a bunch of teams that are probably gonna end up being either in the final eight or in the mix to be in the final eight.”

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