East County Sports

Grizzled Mission Hills give Pats lesson

Christian players can only watch at the end of the game Thursday night.

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

 

By Dave Dickens

EastCountySports.com

 

SAN MARCOS (12-14-17) – It is so rare for the Christian High Lady Patriots to lose two games in a row this season as they came into Thursday night’s game after losing a close contest to Mater Dei by four points.

But that’s what happened when the Patriots, who came in at 7-1 and No. 1 in the SDS CIF Division 3 rankings, lost to Mission Hills, 94-46, in what was supposedly a matchup between two of the county’s top ten teams.

The host Mission Hills Grizzlies came into the contest at 2-5, but are ranked at number 11 in the SDS CIF Division 1 rankings, and we all know how tough division 1 is.

The Lady Patriots definitely found out first hand this evening.

This defeat stung more than the other.

“The awesome thing is we will be able to use this type of loss to learn and to grow from,” said Christian coach VICKIE CARRINGTON. “Mission Hills is an Open Division CIF championship program, and for us to put up 46 points against
that squad is awesome.”

Christian was able to put up a few in the first half as they were down 63-29.

In the 3rd and 4th quarter the Grizzlies defense took ownership of the court.

On the bright side, the Lady Patriots defense only allowed only 9 points in the 4th quarter.

“We have a lot of respect for Mission Hills Head coach Chris Kroesch,” Carrington said, “He runs a very classy, strong
program, and is one of the best high school coaches anywhere.”

The Lady Patriots had a very tough task defending the Grizzlies shooters, because everyone on their squad can shoot.

“Hailey McCoy and Kathryn Neff did their thing and were the two players we really focused on while breaking down film and strategizing for this tough club,” Carrington said. “But the biggest problem, we didn’t stick to the game plan.”

The two Mission Hills standouts combined for 11 3-pointers between the two of them.

Let us not forget the showstopper herself, the young sensation, freshman KRISTIN WILLIAMS, who got into her own little groove hitting 5 3-pointers.

Teammate HANNAH RICHARDSON hit a couple of deep threes to give the Lady Patriots a little bit of a pulse, as well.

SIMONE JAMES played great on both ends of the floor and picked up 10 rebounds and 15 points.

“Where we didn’t follow our plan was containing Mission Hills best and not boxing out,” stated Carrington.

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