Derek Brown
Daily Elk Citian
The Merritt Oilerettes showed why they needed to be guarded until the buzzer sounded against Sentinel on Tuesday night.
In Merritt during Senior Night the Oilerettes trailed Sentinel 56-55 win 3.7 seconds left in the game. Following a missed 1-and-1 free throw from Sentinel the Oilerettes transition game proved to be effective. Bailey Carnes made a two-pointer go-ahead bucket to give Merritt a 57-56 win.
"We really thought that effort and our pressing, we thought that they would turn the ball over," said David Norton, Merritt girls assistant coach. "For the most part whenever we did get them in traps they did turn it over."
The Oilerettes had three players score in double figures. Jacy Bollinger and Lareda Weldon both scored 13 points. Taylor Skelton chipped in 12, Carnes, and Lacey Custer both scored seven in the win.
"When we went in at halftime I told our post girls that they were going to let us post up wherever we wanted to," said Norton. "I told our guards that if they posted up and sealed them, then we had to get them the ball. We made a conscious effort to throw it inside."
Sentinel's Harli Ridling led the game with 17 points.
The Oilerettes rise to 13-8 on the year as Sentinel falls to 8-13.
Norton, who filled in for head coach Danny Maddox, had not coached from the bench as the head coach in 12 years. Norton did coach the no. 19 ranked Oilerettes to a close win over Sentinel in which Carnes' clutch bucket dropped to give Merritt the win.
"She [Carnes] was pretty excited. I don't know if she any more excited than I was," said Norton. "That was kind of fun. I've been an assistant for the last 12 years and I've been happy being an assistant. It was fun. I had a good time doing it. I was excited."
BOYS
The Class A no. 12 ranked Merritt Oilers thoroughly controlled Sentinel at home on Tuesday night.
Merritt jumped out to a 23-8 lead after the first frame. The Oilers led Sentinel 48-16 at the half and cruised to victory with an 84-39 win.
"I really think our kids are just now starting to come on and get more comfortable with each other. When we're attacking on both ends of the floor with that depth, it's really hard for people to maintain concentration. If they take a break on either end of the floor they're getting beat somewhere," said Russ Rundle, Merritt boys head coach.
The Oilers had 17 players get the ball through the hoop. Branson Daugherty scored 19 points. Taylor Mong, and Devin Fite both chipped in nine points. Senior, Michael Garcia scored his first four points against Sentinel on Senior Night.
"It's always fun when all the kids get to play and they all leave with a smile on their face. It's exciting to mom and dad. It just builds excitement in the program and you see more and more people come out and watch them," said Rundle.
The Merritt Oiler's defense led the way having allowed just 16 points in the first half and 39 through four quarters.
"We really think defensively we're coming on at the right pace. The kids know where to be, sometimes they're a half a step slow, but they're getting where they're not as often," said Rundle.