Joey Payeur
Being interviewed after the game almost was as painful for Lindsay Dixon as trying to stop her was for the Dryden Eagles.
The formidable power forward netted 11 of her game-high 13 points in the first half to help the Muskie junior girls’ basketball team dump the host Eagles 44-23 on Friday to defend its NorWOSSA crown.
With a little prodding from her teammates, the media-shy Muskie managed to describe what led to her taking charge at the offensive end.
“They left holes open with the defence they were playing when we were in-bounding the ball,” Dixon remarked.
“I was going to those spaces and waiting for the pass.”
“I love when Lindsay gets on a roll,” said Muskie co-coach Alyssa Holliday.
“She gets confident and excited, and starts sinking shots and rebounding and getting to the right places and even making steals.
“She had an awesome game,” Holliday lauded.
Muskie centre Amber Williams, who tied teammate Claire Hyatt with eight points in the game, knew early on that Dryden was not going to just hand Fort High the gold medal despite the Muskies going undefeated during the regular season.
“I knew [Dryden] was going to come out a lot harder than usual,” said Williams, who was saddled with three fouls in the first quarter but bounced back to score six points in the second half.
“They wanted it bad,” she noted. “But we deserved the win.
“It’s been a great season. I’m sad it’s over.”
Forward Ashley Croswell, who had six points in the final, complimented her team’s overall contributions.
“Every girl played their best and we all filled different roles in the game today,” she said.
Centre Sarah Vandermeer exemplified that concept. She came in off the bench with Williams in foul trouble and had a season-high six points.
She also repeatedly forced Dryden players to alter their shots to try and get them over the tall and intimidating Muskie.
“Sarah really stepped up today,” said Muskie co-coach Marla Knutsen, whose team only led 6-4 after the first quarter before using an 18-0 run midway into the second and stretching part way through the third to catapult the black-and-gold to a 19-point lead.
“She gave us the type of game we had been hoping for all season,” Knutsen added.
“She found her niche and really came out of her shell.”
Knutsen also lauded her guard tandem of Hyatt and Maggie Jean.
“Without their skills in bringing the ball up, none of the post players would be getting the ball,” she reasoned.
“Claire is so good at making plays off her steals,” Knutsen added. “And Maggie bringing the ball up the court can be double- or even triple-teamed sometimes and still get past.”
Ally Wisneski had six points to lead the Eagles.
The Muskies’ joy was dampened somewhat due to the loss of back-up point guard Shanice Starling to a frightening injury with 34.1 seconds left in the third quarter.
Starling made a terrific play to steal the ball in the Fort High backcourt, but then collapsed to the hardwood in agony after taking a couple of strides.
“It looked like her knee literally fell over the side,” said Knutsen, who was uncertain of the extent of the damage.
For Holliday, capturing NorWOSSA gold was a sign that the lessons taught through the fall sank in for the squad.
“It was an amazing year,” she remarked.
“They worked hard in practices and games, and they took what we said in practice to heart.”
