Woodbridge coasts past Diablos in non-league tilt
12/20/2007 Girls Basketball (UPDATED: 1/7/2008)
Coach Bangs out sick, but Warriors win easily...
By BRENT SHAVER
After 502 career wins Woodbridge High girls basketball coach Eric Bangs deserved a night off. Bangs, who was ill, missed the Warriors' non-league home game against Mission Viejo on Thursday night.
Junior varsity coach John Hattrup stepped right in and the Warriors didn't miss a beat, taking down the Diablos, 56-38. "I haven't sat on the varsity bench and had to make a decision in a long time, but it was a lot of fun," said Hattrup, who previously coached varsity at Mission Viejo and Brea Olinda.
The win improved the Woodbridge varsity team's record to 10-1 on the year. It was the team's second straight victory after dropping its first game of the year - a 54-44 defeat to Sea View League rival Foothill in the final of the Santa Ana Elks Tournament.
Woodbridge defeated Mission Viejo, 46-34, last week in the Santa Ana Elks Tournament. Thursday night's win was even better. The difference from last week to Thursday was Woodbridge's defensive effort.
The Warriors held Mission Viejo to just four points in the first quarter. Woodbridge jumped out to a 10-4 lead and never looked back. The Diablos made just 2 of 11 shots in the opening period and had five turnovers.
It didn't get any easier for Mission Viejo against Woodbridge's defense in the second quarter. Woodbridge stretched its lead to double digits at 17-7 after an offensive rebound and basket by Sara McCutchan with 5:25 left in the half. Woodbridge took a 26-11 lead after Julie Walton knocked down a jumper with 1:45 left in the half. The Warriors took their biggest lead of the half at 28-11 after Marine Schmitt scored off of a Jordan Sanchez assist with 32 seconds remaining. The Warriors led, 28-13, going into the intermission.
Mission Viejo (6-4) made just 3 of 20 shots in the first half and committed nine turnovers. The Diablos were also only 7 of 13 from the free throw line.
"The kids played really, really well," Hattrup said. "They stuck to the game plan. (Kaitlyn) Peterson (of Mission Viejo) is very, very good. But you just have to smother her and try and keep her from getting easy shots."
Peterson kept her team in the first match-up between the two teams last week, scoring 20 points. She had seven points in the first half on Thursday and finished with 16 points, but didn't have very many uncontested looks at the basket.
"We did a better job on her tonight," Hattrup said. "We felt instead of pressing (like Woodbridge normally does) and chasing her all over the place that we would set our defense and play good solid man-to-man and help on her when we could. We wanted to hold them to one shot and get out and run when we could. We did a good job in those areas."
Woodbridge led by as many as 21 points in the second half before finishing with the 18-point victory.
Nine players scored for Woodbridge. Four players scored seven points or more. Kate Haxby led the way for Woodbridge with 12 points. Kaitlyn Friday added 10 points. Ashley Ward had nine points and Walton finished with seven points. Breanna Todd chipped in five points.
"I thought we also did a good job executing offensively," Hattrup said. "Everybody coming off the bench did a really good job. It was just your basic Woodbridge game. Everybody has their role and came in and did their job. I was very proud of their effort. I appreciate their effort."
Woodbridge doesn't play again until Saturday, Jan. 5 when it takes on El Modena at home at 6 p.m.
Bangs will be back for that game. Bangs will be honored for his 500th victory in a reception after the game. Former teammates and friends are invited.
GAME BALL
Woodbridge 56, Mission Viejo 38.
Mission Viejo: Bridges 5, Fajardo 1, Garcia de la Vega 2, Leavitt 2, Pestonik 9, Peterson 13, Vail 3.
Woodbridge: Beadle 2, Friday 10, Haxby 12, McCutchan 4, Sanchez 5, Schmitt 2, Todd 5, Walton 7, Ward 9.
Three-point field goals: Mission Viejo 1 (Peterson); Woodbridge 2 (Sanchez, Todd).
Fouled out: None
