Lady Eagles fly into break with 4-1 record

Clara Aucoin
GCN Senior Reporter

  It just takes a little faith and nerves of steel to watch a Lady Eagles basketball game. You know deep down that the Eagles’ stingy defense will give the offense time to get warmed up and put points on the board, but the waiting is just nerve racking. Still, the Lady Eagles did that very thing and came out a winner at Jim Elliott 43-32.

  Although a 1-A school, Jim Elliott is always competitive, and the Warriors had been averaging 50 points a game this season, sitting on a 6-2 win record. They have deadly outside shooting and size inside, so the Eagles were expecting a “tough game” according to Assistant Coach Jim Smythe – and that is what they got.

  Andrea Galanski, Gilpin’s returning honorable mention All State selection from 2004 was apparently a secret to the Warriors, who stood off her in a spread defense. The word got out quickly when Galanski swooped across the lane for a left handed hook. The defense adjusted and it was a battle from then on for the Eagles.

  On a positive note, it looked like the Eagle offense had a new weapon when Kim Hartman spotted up and hit a one handed flip from the free throw line. Alas, that ended Hartman’s scoring for the night, but it’s good to know the talent is there.

  In this game, the referees had been calling all tight all night. It was their third game and the pattern continued. Neither team was loaded with a big bench, but Gilpin had a couple more players, and the fouls started to add up quick. The number discrepancy favored the Warriors, and ultimately the foul count was three to one against the Eagles. Still they hung in there.

  The Warriors were also a good passing team, and early the Eagles looked a little confused, ragged even. Then they settled down to defense, but their own passing suffered and turnovers were a problem early on. Coach Jeff Schuessler was subbing freely during the first quarter, trying to get a combination on the floor to heat up scoring until Galanski was able to get loose. With all the action, the first quarter score of 10-8, hardly befitted all the up and down running of the court.

  The Eagles began shooting from the outside in the second quarter, hoping to loosen the congestion in the paint. The girls worked hard of offense and had scored 20 points by the mid second quarter, but fouls and good shooting were keeping the Warriors close. It was 24-22 at the half, with the Warriors leaving the court with all the momentum after a last second half court shot that ripped through the basket for a final three points. The Eagles’ defensive rebounding was keeping them in the game.

  The third quarter was a defensive masterpiece. The Eagles were not getting good shots; they were not even getting good looks. Galanski was hammered every time she tried to cut across the lane and the referees were not calling fouls on the Warriors. Bodies smashed, passes went awry, and turnovers happened.  Coach Schuessler chatted with the officials about that fact, but nothing changed. A last minutes buzzer three-point shot by Kim Fuller helped the Eagles’ feelings and their lead, 31-25 at the end of the third.

  The Eagles picked up their defense in the fourth quarter and their offense, for whatever the reason, fell into place. Another Kim Fuller three-pointer gave the Eagles a cushion, but Fuller soon went to the bench with her fourth foul. Amber Sterling was with her, so the Eagle bench was keeping the girls in the game. Val Spellman did her part with a three that added air to the score and bought the Eagles some time. They began their offense, deliberate at best, and slowed it even more. Seconds ticked off the clock, and the Eagles’ 39-28 lead looked good with 1:39 on the clock. Thereafter the Eagles offense also relaxed with a spread court. The Warriors guarded everyone, so Galanski had room to move inside and hit two baskets before time expired.

  Andrea Galanski led scoring with 20 points, 16 rebounds, two steals and six assists; Kim Fuller had 11 points, five steals, one assist, and three rebounds; Erin Murray scored five points, two steals, one assist, two blocks and two rebounds; Val Spellman hit three points and one rebound; Tara Galanski had two points, one steal, two blocks and two rebounds; Kim Hartman finished with two points and six assists; and Amber Sterling had four rebounds.