FREMONT – Ross’ girls basketball team knows all too well the Lima Senior Spartans can score points and narrow deficits in a hurry. Having lost a fourth-quarter lead to Lima on Dec. Dec. 14, the Lady Giants were in no mood for a repeat performance.
So as Ross held double-digit leads in the third and fourth quarters, the Lady Giants made sure history did not repeat itself. Everything Lima threatened to climb back into the game, Ross answered with a big basket or two of its own and held on for a 59-50 victory.
When Ross visited Lima earlier this season, the Lady Giants led by 15 at halftime and by 11 heading into the fourth quarter only to lose 61-59.
Thursday night, the Lady Giants took an eight-point lead into halftime, 31-23, but made sure to make the lead hold.
Lima went on a 6-0 run early in the third quarter, trimming what had been a 12-point lead in half. After a timeout, Ross answered. Jazmin Bulger and Brooklyn Baptista combined for 10 points and two assists over the next two-and-half minutes during which the Lady Giants went on a 10-2 run, leading to a 12-point lead, 46-34, entering the fourth quarter.
But, like December’s meeting in Lima, the Spartans did not go away quietly. Lima scored the fourth quarter’s first five points, trimming the deficit down to seven points, prompting another Ross timeout.
Following the timeout, Ross, once again, answered. Ahlia Simms scored on a put-back of an offensive rebound then, 30 seconds later assisted on a 3-pointer by Olivia Baptista got a 12-point lead.
Lima scored with 2:30 to play, again climbing to within eight. Ross, however, slammed the door with a baseline drive by Simms, followed soon thereafter by another 3-pointer, this one from Bulger, going ahead 13 points with 90 seconds to play.
Ross finished one point shy of having four players in double figures. Jazmin led the way with 21 points with eight rebounds, while Simms scored 14. Olivia Baptista scored 11 and Brroklyn Baptista added nine.
The victory lifts Ross to 11-6 overall, 5-5 in the TRAC and give the Lady Giants their second-straight win.
For more details, visit the Ross Sports Report.