Wingate knocks off St. Michael

Posted by Oree Foster | Jan 7, 2016 | Basketball |

Navajo Times | Donovan Quintero
St. Michael Lady Cardinal Chael Moore (21) drives the ball against guarding Wingate Lady Bear Brittany Payton (22) Saturday in Fort Defiance.
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Wingate and St. Michael played evenly in the first half. At crunch time in the second half, the Lady Bears turned in a solid performance to post a 56-49 victory over the Lady Cardinals in an interstate battle at Window Rock High School’s Veterans’ Memorial Fieldhouse in Fort Defiance last Saturday.

Wingate head coach Manuel Smith said it took one half to get rolling.

“We had to make adjustments because we didn’t have our full team today,” Smith said. “We had only seven players. Some of our players haven’t returned from the holidays and we have one of our players out due to an injury. The girls that played today did a excellent job.”

Smith said in the first half the Lady Bears struggled at times. He said the girls relaxed and played a much better second half.

“In the first half, we played up and down,” he said. “We didn’t shoot well. Defensively, we allowed them to penetrate. In the second half, the girls stepped up, playing much better on both ends of the court. We hit key baskets in the fourth quarter. We had a good defensive effort in the fourth quarter with our full court pressure.”

St. Michael head coach Bill McLaughlin said the Lady Cardinals played without two starters due to injuries.

“We’re banged up right now,” he said. “Our bench has to step up, since we have players out. Our point guard, Iyona Freeland, is out with a broken nose. Jalyn Smith is out with a collarbone injury. We need to take care of the ball. Today we had too many turnovers.”