The Lady Dawgs honored seniors (from left) exchange student Christina Mack, Karley Bellew, Aleesha Fox, Lexi McCrory and Cali Allen before tipoff of their Senior Night game against Coquille. GINI DAVIS – THE CRESWELL CHRONICLE
Seniors Karley Bellew, Aleesha Fox, Cali Allen and Lexi McCrory were honored before tipoff of the Lady Bulldogs’ Senior Night game against Coquille on Feb. 10.
The seniors’ families presented congratulatory gifts as the seniors’ letters of appreciation and favorite basketball memories were read aloud. The seniors also received framed action photos.
Before falling 29-38, the Lady Dawgs hung with the Red Devils through the first half, trailing 10-12 after one and 18-19 at halftime. But Creswell ended the third period down 20-27.
”We were trying to make it a half-court game, and were limiting our turnovers,” noted Creswell Head Coach Tyler Hollingsworth. ”Up until two minutes to go in the third we were up one, but we ended up down seven going into the fourth because we had a couple of bad possessions and they scored some easy transition buckets and made a couple of free throws.”
Creswell limited Coquille post Morgan Baird to just one point after she scored seven in the first quarter.
”Overall, we had really good defense after the first quarter,” Hollingsworth said. ”We played hard and gave ourselves chances – we just didn’t make enough shots.”
Bellew led with 13 points, nine rebounds, two steals and a block. Bailey Howell had 10 boards, six blocks and four points. Allen added seven points, two rebounds and a steal.
Halle Layton had 11 for Coquille.
On Feb. 5, Creswell bested host La Pine 58-29. After leading just 14-12 after one, the Lady Dawgs outscored the Hawks 17-7 in the second for a 31-19 halftime advantage. After a 17-4 third quarter Creswell led 48-23.
”We came out flat, but from the second quarter on we were running and got easy transition buckets,” Hollingsworth said.
Bellew recorded a double-double, with 16 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. Aubrie Hatch added 12 points, three rebounds and three assists. Allen had 11 points and two steals.
On Feb. 6, Creswell downed visiting Harrisburg 34-23. The Lady Dawgs trailed 5-11 after another slow first quarter but outscored the Eagles 13-5 to lead 18-16 at halftime, then 26-18 after three.
”Once we got our engine going and got composed we were able to get the looks we wanted,” Hollingsworth said. ”We were able to get defensive stops and push the ball in transition, and we were able to get the right person taking threes for them, knowing the average would be in our favor.”
That player, Stephanie Pelkey, hit three first-quarter threes but made just one shot the rest of the game. She led Harrisburg with 13.
Bellew had another double-double with 13 points, 13 boards and two steals. Hatch added five points and four rebounds. Howell had four points, five rebounds and two blocks.
After finishing regular league play tied for second at 7-3, 14th-ranked Creswell and 11th-ranked Pleasant Hill play off at Harrisburg this week. The winner travels to seventh-ranked league champ Coquille this weekend to determine first and second seeds to state.
