By Matthew Yoder
Seeking to strengthen its approach into late season contests with league frontrunner Northampton, Chincoteague dismantled Arcadia Tuesday night in Oak Hall, 54-19.
The Ponies hit their stride early, opening the game on a 17-0 run. The inflated deficit came as a result of some really good passing by the Ponies, starting from the tip with Alanna Hall assisting Lexi Marshall for a layup. Hall was then the benefactor of great passes from Caroline Shelley and Emma Jackson, as Hallamassed a game high 22 points from very high percentage shots.
Arcadia finally answered Chincoteague’s dominance behind a pair of 3-point baskets from Bella Williams. The quarter ended with Chincoteague leading 18-6.
Despite the hole they found themselves in, there was no quit in the young Firebirds. Arcadia made a concerted effort to step up the pressure on defense in the second quarter. Williams set the example with a number of steals to open the quarter, at times by means of hustling to the floor and Tiana Bagwell supplied some needed offense for the Firebirds after scoring off a loose ball.
The Ponies lead was not seriously threatened, however, as their ball movement continued to impress. Maxine Fernandez scored off a good back and forth with Hall, then later Fernandez directed a nice bounce pass to Hall for a score. Lindsay O’Shea also made her mark on the game fighting for offensive rebounds and scoring in the paint. Jackson, too, controlled the boards for Chincoteague, finishing on a nice tip in, as well as assisting Kyla McClain for a jumpshot late in the half.
The Firebirds continued to compete, much to the delight of their coach, Casey Cordrey. His team’s growth on the court, as they learn the fundamentals of the game, does not visibly seem to disrupt his patience, but he sees the most basic premise of the game, scoring points, stalling a quantum leap for his players. “I feel like they played aggressive the entire game, at this point we need to put the ball in the bucket,” Cordrey said.
The half ended with Bagwell assisting Omariyanna Reed in the paint for a late score, but Chincoteague had extended the lead to 19, 33-14 going into the half.
The second half mirrored much of the first. Williams continued to play a good all-around game for the Firebirds, converting on another 3 en route to a team high 10 points, but the Ponies just overmatched in all facets. Shelley directed a nice touch pass to O’Shea for a score, and Hall opened up the game further with her defense leading to fast breaks.
The strategy of Chincoteague head coach, Jimmy Bloxom, was to work on some issues and include all his players, in preparation for meetings ahead with Northampton, and particularly the play of number 23, Maeyanna Delk.
“We worked on our press a bit, and we got everybody some playing time,” said Bloxom.
The difference, Bloxom believes, comes down to slowing the Yellow Jackets’ star.
“We have to get the ball out of Delk’s hand,” Bloxom said.
