Grizzlies roll past Holly, stay perfect in SFL

Joe Zemba
·4 min read
Alyssa Maestas shoots over the outstretched arm of a Holly defender as teammates Olivia Romero (15) and Gracie Osbourne (22) position themselves for an offensive rebound. Maestas led Fowler in scoring with 13 points.
Alyssa Maestas shoots over the outstretched arm of a Holly defender as teammates Olivia Romero (15) and Gracie Osbourne (22) position themselves for an offensive rebound. Maestas led Fowler in scoring with 13 points.

The Fowler High School girl's basketball team remained perfect in Santa Fe League play Friday evening with a resounding 61-32 victory over visiting Holly High School.

The Grizzlies outscored the Wildcats in every quarter, improving their season record to 3-4, but more importantly, improved their Santa Fe League (SFL)record to 2-0, tying them for the top spot in SFL play.

"We're off to a good start in league play," said Fowler head coach Lindsay Whalen, "but we haven't met any of the traditionally strong teas in conference yet. Our non-conference schedule prepared us for these early games and we're sitting in a good spot." In fact, Fowler sat in good spot throughout Friday night's action, with nine Lady Grizzlies contributing points in the winning effort. Holly scored first off a three-point basket from Nadia Cerros, but Fowler scored often.

Klara Sharp logged the first points of the game for Fowler, hitting one of two from the free throw line at the 7:08 mark. Holly responded with a bucket from their senior leader, Sierra Howland at the 6:44 mark to put the Wildcats ahead 5-1. Olivia Romero answered for Fowler at the 6:25 mark to narrow the score to 5-3 and Howland responded at the 4:11 mark for Holly, however the rest of the quarter would belong to Fowler.

Andrea Maestas hit one of two from the free throw line to cut the lead to 7-4 and Jordan Bates (4), Jacelyn Hagerman (2), Andrea Maestas (2), and Kristen Sharp (2) scored the next eight points to put the Grizzlies ahead for good at the end of the first quarter, 12-7. Fowler outshot Holly 21-9 throughout the second quarter, including a 15-3 run to open the quarter.

Fowler's Olivia Romero defends against Holly's Noelia Puga in first quarter action Friday night in Fowler. FHS defeated Holly, 61-32.
Fowler's Olivia Romero defends against Holly's Noelia Puga in first quarter action Friday night in Fowler. FHS defeated Holly, 61-32.

Fowler was led in the second by by Gracie Osbourne with five points, Madi Bates (4), Andrea Maestas (4), Klara Sharp (3), Jordan Bates (3), and Alyssa Maestas (2). The Grizzlies played good defense in the quarter, holding Holly scoreless until 2:20 remained in the half. Noelia Puga (2), Jade Casey (2), Averee Davis (2), and Aureonna Davis (2) led the WiIdcats in scoring in the quarter.

The third quarter saw another large scoring output from the Grizzlies, who again outscored Holly by a wide margin, 17-8. Fowler opened on a 9-2 run with Alyssa Maestas taking the lead for the Grizzlies. Maestas scored the opening basket, a three point shot to put the Grizzlies ahead 36-16, and followed with two more made attempts at the 6:57 mark and again with 4:57 left in the quarter.

Gracie Morlan scored fro Holly with 6:16 on the clock to cut the Fowler lead to 40-18. Jordan Bates scored for Fowler at the 4:26 mark and went 1-2 from the line, as did Klara Sharp. Andrea Maestas scored for the Grizzlies at the 2:58 mark, Hagerman (2) with 53 seconds remaining, and Maestas closed out the quarter with a bucket with 11 seconds remaining.

Holly closed the quarter with field two made field goals from Morlan and a pair of free throws from Jade Casey, leaving Fowler ahead 50-24 entering the fourth. Fowler opened the quarter with two made field goals from Kristen Sharp (&:25) and Jordan Bates ((6:39) to garner their largest lead of the game at 54-24. Cerros (1), Josei Kissel (1) and Puga (2) aided a short Holly rally to cut the lead to 54-28, but Kristen Sharp answered with 2:35 put the Griz ahead 56-28.

Howland went 2-2 from the free throw line and added a made bucket to close the game for Holly, while Alyssa Maestas scored twice for Fowler to end the game in favor of the Grizzlies, 61-32. Alyssa Maestas led the Grizllies in scoring with 13 points, shooting 5-11 from the field. Jordan Bates added 10, Kristen Sharp 8, Klara Sharp 7, Andrea Maestas 7, Osbourne 5, Madi Bates 4, Hagerman 4, and Romero 3. Casey led Holly with eight points, followed by Cerros 6, Davis 4, Howland 3, and Kissel 1.

"Overall, I'm happy with our play," said Whalen. "We knew they would try to pressure us, and we turned over the ball more than we should have. But we were able to eventually run the floor and get easy baskets and play good defense. We've struggled in previous games closing traps, but we did a lot better tonight."

Up next:

The Lady Grizzlies played host to undefeated Rye (9-0) Tuesday (prior to press time). "They'll definitely pressure us," said Whalen, "and they don't turn the ball over." Fowler will travel to Rocky Ford (3-4, 2-1) on Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

This article originally appeared on LA Junta Tribune: Grizzlies roll past Holly, stay perfect in SFL