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Trappers Seek Fast Starts During Three-Game Weekend
Injuries, slow starts and a top-ranked opponent teamed up against the Northwest College women’s basketball team during the season’s opening weekend in Sheridan.
The Trappers entered the weekend down two players, and were quickly without a third as they lost to No. 4 College of Southern Idaho (74-52) on Friday and Fort Carson (70-63) on Saturday.
“I guess I’d rather have injuries at the beginning, and get them back by the time we’re into the full swing of our season, than lose them late,” NWC head coach Janis Beal said. “It gives some opportunity. Maybe some kids who wouldn’t have gotten playing time early, have to, because we’re limited, and that will hopefully help us in the long run.”
Sophomores Shelby Nicholson (Lovell) and Larissa Knight, a transfer from Western Wyoming, were held out, and freshman Jessica Lohrenz (Littleton, Colorado) suffered a knee injury early against CSI.
The thinned roster contributed to a pair of double-digit halftime deficits that sent Northwest to its first 0-2 start since the 2008-09 season.
The Trappers fell into a 40-25 halftime hole against Fort Carson, a day after trailing 41-16 at the break to CSI.
“The thing we have to remember is we have a lot of kids that are playing that don’t have a lot of experience,” Beal said. “We only have one starter (Kealani Sagapolu) from last year. Even those kids who are sophomores are gaining some experience.”
Northwest turned it around at the half, however, and outscored its opponents in the final 20 minutes of each game.
“We were a totally different team from first half to second half,” Beal said.
With three games in three days this week, Beal said her team needs to start the game with the drive it showed in the second half of its two losses.
“We talked about it after that second game against Fort Carson. We have to have more of a concerned (concerted) effort in preparation of getting ready to go out and play from the tip-off, instead of waiting until we get down big,” Beal said. “I think that starts in warm-ups, and I think they got that feeling too. So hopefully we’ll have a little higher energy and intensity that will follow through.”
Freshman Jacey Shaw and sophomore Sagapolu each registered double-doubles against Fort Carson.
Shaw scored 22 points on 8-for-15 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds and had one assist in the loss. The Dietrich, Idaho, shooting guard was the Trappers’ top scorer despite filling in for Knight as a point guard.
Chandler Rose scored 16 points and had five rebounds and two assists.
“Chandler hit some big shots as we tried to make a comeback against Fort Carson,” Beal said. “She’s a good energy kid, coming in and creating.”
Sagapolu’s production (10 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and three steals) was a welcome sight for Beal, who said she would like to see more scoring chances for her post players.
“We do have to get more post touches, for sure, with Kealani and Whitney (Hatch).” Just because I think they can score. But we have to do a better job getting them the ball,” Beal said.
Northwest’s rebounding will also have to improve. The Trappers were out-rebounded 39-34 by Fort Carson and 53-25 by CSI.
“CSI killed us on the boards,” Beal said. “It wasn’t as bad against Fort Carson but there were some big rebounds that we gave up against Fort Carson that could have been game changers.”
The Trappers worked on boxing out and rebounding in practice this week and will be able to put it to use this weekend against Dawson, Bismarck State and United Tribes.
“They’re going to shoot a lot of 3s, they’re going to shoot a lot from the outside, and that creates that long shot, long rebound,” Beal said.
Sophomore Aubree Porter led the Trappers in their 22-point loss to CSI.
Porter scored 18 points and was the only Trapper in double figures. She added four rebounds, two steals and an assist.
“Aubree’s done a great job of being a leader and attacking the basket,” Beal said. “Last year she was pretty hesitant and just kind of shot from the outside.”
Sagapolu had a team-high nine rebounds, scored six points, blocked two shots and had one steal against CSI.
Rose had nine points, four rebounds and a steal. Kennedy Netto scored nine points.
Northwest plays at Dawson (Glendive, Montana) at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, at Bismarck State at 6 p.m. on Friday and then at United Tribes Technical College at noon on Saturday.