FREMONT – When the Lady Giants’ season-in-review highlight video is compiled at the end of the year, there won’t be many clips from their trip to Oregon Clay Monday night.
The Lady Giants, riding a four-game win streak, played one of their most disappointing games of the season. Ross struggled from the field, was outrebounded on the glass, lacked energy and cohesiveness and found itself upset by Clay, 46-39.
Ross, which had done a nice job in last few games of playing strong, consistent basketball against less-talented opponents, saw itself finally play down to its opponent’s level.
“If you don’t do things right and stay consistent with your capabilities, anybody can win on any given night,” Ross coach Juan Vela said.
“I think we played lower than the competition. We can come up with 100 excuses but, the bottom line that I’m not happy with is we didn’t get it done. I’m pretty upset. I’m disappointed.”
Things started out ugly for the Lady Giants and they never improved. Ross began the game with four turnovers in the first four minutes and did not make its first field goal for nearly six minutes but still managed to lead 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw more of the same as the Lady Giants were ice-cold from the field, with several missed layups and wide-open 3-point attempts that refused to fall through the basket. Clay ended the first half on a 6-1 run over the final 3:30 to go into halftime with an 18-16 lead.
“Defensively, we couldn’t rebound, we couldn’t hit a shot, we were fouling,” Vela said. “We started focusing on the referees. One thing led to another. I don’t even think Oregon Clay shot the ball very well from the field, they just hit some shots down the stretch and they hit some free throws but we shouldn’t have put them on the line.”
Though Clay continued to hold its narrow lead in the third quarter, with just a couple of baskets, Ross could have gone on a momentum-seizing run. But the Lady Giants never managed to string together enough quality possessions to get themselves going.
In the third quarter, senior Jazmin Bulger was called for a pair of charges just 90 seconds apart. After the second offensive foul, the usually-stoic and composed Bulger showed visible frustration which her teammates shared.
“She was driving the lane, usually when it’s open she gets the basket or she goes to the free throw and hits them but they did a good job stopping her,” Vela said. “My first timeout called the purpose was to keep the focus on what we’re trying to do, not on the crowd or the referees, just play ball, play ball.”
Clay maintained a one-point lead into the fourth quarter where Olivia Baptista hit a 3-pointer to give Ross the lead and a spark that indicated maybe Ross could salvage the night. Less than a minute later, however, Clay answered with a 3-pointer of its own to re-take the lead once and for all. Ross sent Clay to the free throw line 18 times in the fourth quarter where the Eagles connected on 13 shots.
For the game, Ross made just 13 of 50 field goal attempts with Olivia Baptista leading the Lady Giants with 16 points and Bulger adding 10.
“Even when you’re having a bad night, you can still do a lot of things right,” he added. “It was one of those nights you can’t wait to get home and get this day over with and come in tomorrow and try to get better.”
Ross returns to action Thursday when the Lady Giants travel to TRAC-leading Notre Dame at 7:30
Oregon Clay 46, Fremont Ross 39
FR| 7—9—8—14 39
OC| 6—12—7—21 46
ROSS (39)
Bulger 5 0-2 10; O. Baptista 4 5-6 16; Gore 0 0-1 0; Horn 0 0-2 0; Simms 2 2-4 6; B. Baptista 1 0-0 3; Sabiers 1 2-2 4; Overmyer 0 0-2 0. Totals, 13 9-19 39.
CLAY (46)
Henneman-Dallape 1 1-7 3; Coughlin 4 5-8 16; Stevens 3 4-4 11; Stanley 0 6-8 6; Vincent 4 1-4 10. Totals, 12 18-31 46.
3-pointers: FR, 4 (O. Baptista 3; B. Baptista 1). OC, 4 (Coughlin 3; Stevens 1).