Nighthawks Win First Game Of Season

Lady Tigers Take 2nd in Dixon,
Tigers Get Back To Winning Ways

BY TREVOR HORN
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

It was déjà vu all over again for the Inderkum High varsity girls basketball team.

Lack of height and a poorshooting percentage did the team in during the championship game at the annual Dixon Ram Jam Winter Classic on Saturday, Dec. 29.
 
The lady Tigers (9-7) lost to Davis High School, 70-49. Inderkum won second–place overall for the tournament.

“This time we had a much better showing against them,” Inderkum headcoach Phillip Hampton said. “In the first half with the way the girlswere playing. We took advantage of whatever they were giving us.”

Despite trailing 15-5 at the end of the first quarter, Sakara Brewerscored 13 points in the second quarter to lead comeback that helpedtie the game 33-33 at halftime.

But the height of the Davis team’s Emma Stenz (18 points, 8 rebounds) and AshleighVanderbrink (17 points, 7 rebounds) proved too much for Inderkum during the second half.

“In the second half, I think I didn’t recognize early that they werepulling (Stenz) out (to the perimeter,” Hampton said. “The issue waswe weren’t matching up.”

The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Tigers.

Shymir Mitschan-Baldwin chipped in with seven points for the Tigers asBailee Bernard and Alyesha Simmons both scored six points.Brewer was named all-conference after scoring 25 points on Saturday night.

On deck now for the Tigers with the first home game of the season onFriday, Jan. 4 against No. 2 ranked Oak Ridge.

“That’s Mount Everest,” Hampton said of the Trojans. “They aredisciplined. They are very good. It is going to be a tough one.”

Aconcern for Hampton is the 20-game, at-home winning streak – which dates back toJan. 26, 2010 – on the line.

“Here is the concern,” Hampton said. “I am hoping for some strong playlike we saw tonight. I like the way we have been playing for the lastfive games. I am liking the direction of the team. I am a little onedge because of (the streak) that potentially could come to an end.”

Inderkum boys basketball: Tigers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 59-55win over Rosemont in the seventh place game at the Cordova ChristmasClassic in Rancho Cordova.Terrence White was named all-tournament for Inderkum (9-5) afterscoring a career-high 41 points in the second round loss to McClatchyon Friday.

Natomas boys basketball: The Nighthawks (1-11) won the first game of the seasonwith a 63-46 victory over Paradise in the seventh place game at theWhitney Winter Classic in Rocklin on Saturday, Dec. 29. Jamison Lyons led the Nighthawks with 17 points as CharlesMarlbourough scored 13 and Jalen Manning had 11.
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Email story ideas to Trevor Horn @ [email protected] and follow himon Twitter @trevhorn