Their defense kept Sage Hill off balance in their 51-37 nonleague win that improved their record to 6-0.
Last year, CdM finished 7-19 and lost its final nine games. But this year, the Sea Kings have a different streak and it’s coming from their all-out effort on the court.
“Our determination,” CdM Coach Mark Decker said of what impressed him the most Friday. “The girls are playing so hard. They’re all over the court. Their intensity is great. That’s what carried us through. You get in those rough spots, we just keep going. We don’t give the other team a break.
“Most of them have been looking forward to this game because they handled us pretty well last year.”
Junior Katie Bergsma seemed plenty determined against the Lightning (2-1). She scored 14 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and played tough defense on Sage Hill’s senior standout Tierney Danner, who finished with five points.
CdM sophomore Kayla Marolt also scored in double digits, adding 13 points. She hit seven of 10 from the free-throw line. The Sea Kings received a spark from sophomore Ellie Nadal, who scored 11 points. She hit two three-pointers, the latter helping the Sea Kings regain control midway through the fourth period.
Senior Morgan Hembarsky, who led Sage Hill with 13 points, knocked down a three-pointer to complete a 7-2 run that drew the Lightning to within, 39-32. But Nadal’s three-pointer was a big part of a 10-0 run that kept CdM out in front.
Sage Hill could not recover.
“We are just playing harder than last year,” Nadal said. “We want to go to [the playoffs]. That’s our goal. We want it more this year than we did last year.”
The Sea Kings showed their passion on defense, forcing the Lightning into several turnovers. CdM’s full-court pressure defense caused 13 turnovers.
