GIRLS’ BASKETBALL SPORT SHORTS, 2011-12–
(Latest girls’ basketball shorts will be at the top of the section. Scroll down to check out past results. Scrimmages do not count toward win/loss record. Visit the Sports Section for girls’ basketball features. For a simple overview of scores and upcoming games, check the Winter sport box scores, 2011-12 for dates, opponents and times for all Eagle sports.)

Be sure to visit the 2011-12 girls’ basketball schedule, home page, or check out Maxpreps.com.The Eagles are currently 3-15 overall and 1-6 in the West Sequoia League as of Feb. 7. The Eagles will next play against Caruthers High School on Feb. 10 at 6 p.m.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL, 2011-12

EAGLES DEFEAT TIGERS–Feb. 3
During the second round of league play, the Eagles hosted the Tranquillity Tigers, Feb. 7.

After losing by 16 points to the Tigers earlier in the season, the Eagles were eager for a win. Due to the previous match up between the teams, Tranquillity?s head coach Angelica Ayala was aware that senior captain Brandi Thompson is a crucial player for the Eagles gameplay. In order to prevent Thompson from receiving the pass, Ayala came up with new defensive plays by trapping Thompson, which put her in foul trouble by the end of the first quarter. Despite the Tigers? effort, the Eagles dominated the game by staying strong on defense, capturing a victory over the Tigers, 42-31.

In order to prevent Thompson from fouling out of the game, FC head coach Santino Reynolds sent her to the bench in the beginning of the second quarter. Thus, allowing younger players to receive valued game time; Thompson returned to the game near the end of the second quarter.

According to sophomore wing Viviana Hinojosa, who had 1 point and 2 steals, she commends Thompson for demonstrating a selfless act by sacrificing her playing time.

?Brandi is a great team player,? Hinojosa said. ?She sacrificed her playing time for us and it was a great example of leadership; it also showed that she trusted us. She reminded me once again that basketball is a team sport through her actions; I am glad that we have a selfless captain like Brandi.?

Due to the Tigers? weak defense, senior captains Nicole Hensley and Thompson were able to cruise through their defense to make lay ups in the third quarter.

In the last quarter, Reynolds changed the Eagles defense to a 2-2-1 zone instead of man-to-man, which created difficulty for the Tigers’ offense. Once the Eagles changed up their game plan, the Tigers began to tire on both sides of the ball, allowing FC’s offense to make passes to the block creating opportunities for post player lay-ups.

Since FC made proper adjustments throughout the game, the Eagles were led by Hensley who had 22 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 4 assists.

Thompson says that she is fond of her teammates for trying their best on the court and will be satisfied if the team continues to play as one in the future.

?I am so proud of my teammates,? Thompson said. ?Not only because we won, but because we worked together as a team rather than individuals. We have three more games left and if we keep doing what we are doing, I believe that we can win.?

According to FC assistant coach Josh Gilio, he is proud of the team for executing plays and for playing strong defense.

?I thought we by far played our best game of the year, defensively and in rebounding,? Gilio said. ?Tranquillity is a team that crushed us in both of those phases last time, but this time around I felt like we were the better team. As a coach, what makes me most proud is the fact that we were able to execute our game plan perfectly.?

Similar to Gilio, Reynolds says he is content with the victory and plans to prepare the team to play more aggressively in their next game.

“It was nice for the girls to get their first home win of the season in a very typical grind in our game,” Reynolds said. “We forced a lot of turnovers and executed on offense, which led to a nice victory tonight. It will be very key against Caruthers that we take care of the ball and play solid defense for four quarters. Caruthers likes to force turnovers to get easy shots so we need to prevent that.”

The Eagles will host the Caruthers Blue Raiders , which is FC’s Senior Night beginning at 6 p.m., Feb. 10.