Reservoir girls basketball wins fifth game in a row, defeating Mt. Hebron, 45-27

Feb. 5—By Jacob Steinberg — jsteinberg@baltsun.com

PUBLISHED:February 5, 2024 at 9:35 p.m.| UPDATED:February 5, 2024 at 11:25 p.m.

There are ups and downs in any basketball season.

Reservoir girls basketball started the year out strong, winning six of its first seven games. However, the Gators then hit a rut, losing four of their next five.

Reservoir needed a reset. To combat what coach Deb Taylor saw as some complacency, she and her assistants began holding the girls accountable, pushing them to work harder in practice.

Another winning streak commenced.

Reservoir won its fifth in a row Monday night, beating Mt. Hebron, 45-27. The recent streak also includes wins over Glen Burnie and Howard, last year's Class 4A and 3A state champions, respectively.

"In the beginning of the season we were certainly hanging our hat on our defense and good things were happening from it," Taylor said. "In the Atholton game, there was no question we did not bring our defensive intensity. That was really the one where we said, 'That is what we've done well to get where we've been. That's what we've got to get back to.' I would say our defensive intensity is back and that will lead to some better offense for us."

That heightened defensive intensity set the tone against the Vikings. Reservoir (12-5, 10-5 Howard County) held Mt. Hebron without a field goal for the opening seven minutes and just two first-quarter points. Defense fueled an offense led by Gabi Burian (11 points) and Jasmin Shelton (12 points) that built an 11-point lead after the first quarter.

"When you get four good open looks and don't convert any of them, it's crushing to the kids," Mt. Hebron coach Tierney Ahearn said. "Their confidence bottoms out and we're trying to encourage them. The more shots they take that don't go in, the harder it is to recover from. It's even harder when you're going down against a great team like Reservoir, but they kept fighting."

Burian, Shelton and Alissa Young, three of Reservoir's most experienced players spearheaded that defensive effort. The Gators' bench helped provide an offensive spark in the second quarter with Paige Malwitz, Leah Lauer and Chloe-Teresa Nguena scoring baskets. Their collective effort helped Reservoir mount a 13-point halftime lead, as the Vikings' offense struggled to find their groove.

"It just fuels our offense," Burian said of the defense. "It gives us all the confidence to say even if we can't shoot the ball well, we know we can't have them shoot the ball period. So, having that locked down mentality, it helps us get us easy buckets and life becomes easier for us."

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Mt. Hebron #5, Kristian Jordan shoots a three in the 1st half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Reservoir #2, Lynan Meadows and #4, Gabi Burian battle for a rebound with Mt. Hebron #11, Jaelyn Peters in. the 1st half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Reservoir #3, Chloe-Theresa Nguena pulls down a rebound in the 1st half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Mt. Hebron #11, Jaelyn Peters drives towards the basket in the 1st half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Mt. Hebron #13, Madison Castro pull-up jump shot in the 1st half. She was fouled on the play. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Mt. Hebron #12, Pearl Prasartkarnka jump shot in the 1st half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Mt. Hebron #2, Michelle Nzelibe layup in the 1st half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Reservoir girls varsitry basketball coach, Deb Taylor. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Reservoir #13, Alissa Young layup in the 2nd half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Reservoir's Jasmin Shelton hits pull-up jump shot in the second half against Mt. Hebron. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

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Reservoir #14, Paige Malwitz shot is blocked by Mt. Hebron #11, Jaelyn Peters in the 2nd half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Mt. Hebron #3, Leen Jawhar layup in the 2nd half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Reservoir #14, Paige Malwitz drives towards the basket in the 2nd half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Mt. Hebron #11, Jaelyn Peters put-back after offensive rebound in the 1st half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Reservoir #4, Gabi Burian layup is blocked by Mt. Hebron #13, Madison Casto in the 2nd half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Mt. Hebron #3, Leen Jawhar fast-break pull-up jump shot for two in the 1st half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Reservoir girls varsitry basketball coach, Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Reservpoir #4, Gabi Burian sinks a three in the 2nd half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Mt. Hebron girls varsity basketball coach, Tierney Ahearn. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Mt. Hebron #13, Madison Castro shoots a two in the 1st half. She was fouled on the play. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Mt. Hebron #11, Jaelyn Peters looks to pass as she drives towards the basket in the 1st half. Mt. Hebron vs Reservoir girls basketball at Mt. Hebron High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)

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Reservoir built on its lead in the second half. Just when Mt. Hebron (8-8, 6-7) chipped into the deficit, Young knocked down a contested buzzer-beating corner 3-pointer to close out the third. Early in the fourth, Burian benefitted from side-to-side ball movement and drilled her third shot from 3-point range, while Shelton continued to control the paint.

Reservoir's defense held an opponent to less than 30 points for the fourth time in the last five games. With three regular-season games remaining, the Gators aim to replicate that defensive intensity down the stretch. However, they know that has to start in practice.

"The coaches emphasize that we do in practice, that's how we'll play the next day," Shelton said. "It's just one of many things, where if we don't play well in practice, the next day in our game we're not going to do well. Making sure that we play in hard in practice doesn't secure a win, but it really helps us."

Scoring

Re: Jasmin Shelton: 12; Gabi Burian: 11; Alissa Young: 7; Leah Lauer: 5; Chloe-Teresa Nguena: 4; Lynan Meadows: 2; Paige Malwitz: 2; Annie Wethington: 2.

MH: Jaelyn Peters: 9; Leen Jawhar: 6; Iva Damyanova: 4; Pearl Prasartkarnka: 3; Kristian Jordan: 2; Madison McShea: 2; Madison Casto: 1.

HT: 24-11 Reservoir

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