Wasatch girls lose undefeated status; Layton Christian edges them, 56-54
Matt Harris
Staff writer
2-9-2017
MT. PLEASANT—The Lady Tigers’ road trip didn’t start out all the way they’d hoped, suffering their first loss of the season.
The Wasatch Academy girls basketball team was stunned by a well-prepared Layton Christian team, 56-54, which subsequently dropped the previously fourth-ranked Lady Tigers out of the 2A Top 5. The loss also knocked Wasatch off the top of the Region 14 standings, now sitting in second place with a 6-1 record.
“I think we were beaten by a very good team,” head coach Coke Whiteworth said. “They had a great game plan and executed it very well. Our team was never able to get any good rhythm or momentum really, and so much of that is due to how well LCA executed their game plan. I was proud of our girls for fighting back from being down 12 points twice, to even have the chance to win in the last possession.”
The Lady Eagles had Wasatch number from the start, as Whiteworth mentioned, but were still having to figure out how to stop a machine by the name of Manu Oliviera. The Lady Tigers’ junior guard carried her team to the tune of 35 points. Freshman Courtney Condie also added 10 points.
Despite the loss, Whiteworth sees a bright side.
“It was an incredible atmosphere to play in and was a game that I am sure we will learn from,” Whiteworth said. “The loss was probably a good thing in the long run because it really forced us to look at areas of our game that we really need to improve upon moving forward.”
Subsequently, the Lady Tigers took out their frustrations on an outmatched Rockwell team, throttling them, 72-39. By the end of the first quarter, Wasatch was leading the hapless Lady Marshals, 27-0.
The game’s featured scorers were the usual big three of Wasatch: Oliviera, junior Mari Zanelatto, and junior Vanessa Medina. Medina led the charge with 22 points, while Oliviera and Zanelatto added 16 each.
The Lady Tigers also defeated American Prep Academy, 77-29. Stats were not available.
Upcoming, Wasatch hopes to regain its hold on the region title by finishing the season with wins. After playing at home against Waterford last Tuesday (score next week), the Lady Tigers host their season finale against Rowland Hall tonight at 7 p.m.
