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Girls Basketball: Mitchell Edges Gulf

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By LEE DIEKEMPER/Tribune correspondent

Published: January 17, 2009

TRINITY - Mitchell High School girls basketball coach Jacob Tavo always preaches defense. It seems his players listen well, as it was defense that held Mitchell in against Gulf Friday night in a 36-31 victory.

The Mustangs had a terrible second quarter in which most teams would have been blown out, but in the final 14 minutes, the host Mustangs held Gulf to a total of two field goals, both three-point baskets from Nicole Adams.

"That tells me our defense is good, real good," Mitchell forward Lashe Kirkland said.

"[Defense] was the only thing that kept us in the game," Tavo said of his team's first-half offensive struggles. "I was proud of the girls that they mentally didn't break down on offense.

"Usually if you are not making layups that can happen. And we weren't making layups. I was proud of them."

So intensely did the Mustangs play defense, that at every loose ball it appeared two or three Mitchell players went diving as if it was a fumble in football.

"Sometimes, that's what it takes," Tavo said. "First half they didn't play as a team. The second half they did. That was the difference."

The stingy defense enabled Mitchell to rally from a seven-point halftime deficit, sending Gulf to 14-4 on the season.

Kirkland, a 5-9 junior, was a big reason why. She used good vision, solid free throw shooting and hustling defense to help the Mustangs complete the rally.

"They used some really good help-side defense," Gulf coach Mike Quarto said of Mitchell.

With Mitchell (10-6) holding a 25-24 lead early in the fourth, Kirkland saw Leighlani Paselio open underneath. Kirkland had to rifle the ball to her between a pair of defenders. Paselio hit a turnaround jumper and was fouled on the play, padding the Mustangs' cushion with 6:21 left.

Though Paselio was unable to make the free throw, momentum had turned.

"She's the one who decided to start hustling in the second half," Tavo said of Kirkland. "Sometimes it takes just one and then it's a domino effect."

Kirkland didn't disagree.

"I really, really, really wanted to win this game," Kirkland said. "If I see the potential for a play I'm going to fire a pass in there hoping we can get a quick layup."

In the final 1:43, Kirkland also sank three of four free throws. She hit a pair with 52 seconds left to put Mitchell up 32-31.

Gulf still had some opportunities, especially late. Coming out of a timeout with five seconds left and Mitchell leading 34-31, a three-point basket attempted bounced off the rim.

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