Jaguars, Eagles, Gaels, and Lynx just couldn’t swipe the Cowgirls off their feet…but all of that changed when the Cowgirls faced the Clear Lake Lions on Tuesday night.
Hosting the Cowgirls, the Clear Lake Lions electrified the gym with music from the band, and the roaring fans cheering on their team. The Cowgirls arrived, carrying a 4-0 record on their backs, however Tuesday night they weren’t just facing the Lions basketball team. They were facing the crowd, too.
Aiming a win with a growling aggression for the ball, the Lions pressed the Cowgirls early on in the game, causing difficulty for the Cowgirls when passing the ball. The Lions were successful in marking each Cowgirl, as they struggled to penetrate through the Lions’ defense and capture some points. Ending the first quarter 30-11, the Lions held a comfortable lead over the Cowgirls. However, the Cowgirls made the Lions earn their win as they continued to press. Though they struggled to make it to the paint and add continuous two points needed to increase their lead, players such as SO Sawyer Morrical and JR Lexie Lane capitalized, shooting for three’s and managing to sink some. The Cowgirls were down 42-16 when halftime arrived, but kept their heads up high for the second half to arrive.
“We must be able to handle full court pressure,” said Coach Liz Ennis, following the close game versus Webster City. This, however, remained an issue for the Cowgirls as they struggled with the pressure of the Lions who were successful in stealing the ball from the Cowgirls. As the second half progressed, the Cowgirls struggled to find players open, leading to even more turnovers. It was as if the Lions became predators, and the Cowgirls their prey, though the Cowgirls never once surrendered to the score.
Frustration emerged on the court, especially from JR Lexie Lane as she searched for players available to receive the ball. “Come on!” she shouted, eager to contribute more buckets for the Cowgirls and increase their lead with the time left. The Lions controlled the game, however, securing their lead throughout the remainder of the game. After closing the third quarter with a 57-23 lead, the Lions looked like they were trying to play a game within a game, as they passed the ball over the Cowgirls heads and to each other repeatedly. Double-teaming one Lion player led to another Lion player wide open, which resulted in the increase of Clear Lake’s lead as the fourth quarter progressed and ended in a 62-27 defeat for the Cowgirls.
The match ended with the first loss of the 2021/2022 season for the Cowgirls, as the Lions snatched the win they were chasing for that night. “We have to be strong,” said Ennis, “it's a mindset-it's about willing yourself to be physical, to come to the ball, to want to score. That comes with more practice and more confidence.”
It wasn’t a fifth win for the Cowgirls on Tuesday night, but certainly by the end the week they’ll be shooting for a 6-1 record as they are set to host Belmond-Klemme on Thursday, December 16, at 6:15 PM, and Iowa Falls-Alden on Friday, December 17, at 6:15 PM.
