BAKER — There is no place like home for Baker School’s girls basketball team in the still young season.
The Gators won their season opener at home against Vernon. Baker then went on the road and lost to 1A powers Paxton and South Walton.
Baker was back home Tuesday in the friendly confines of the Gator Gymnasium hosting Pensacola Catholic. The familiar surroundings worked wonders for the young team as Baker shook off a slow start to beat the Class 4A Crusaders 44-29.
“It’s always good to play at home,” Baker Coach Jamie Kerrell said. “You are familiar with things. I think the girls have a sense of security when we play at home.
“We did some good things tonight. We played good defense and we shot the ball well at times.”
The Gators (2-2) got off to a slow start. Baker only scored six points in the first quarter on 3-point baskets by Izzy Cain and Ayajah Coleman.
Fortunately for the Gators the Crusaders weren’t much better only scoring eight points.
Abigal Hermann scored 90 seconds into the second quarter to push Catholic’s lead to 10-6.
With Cain leading the way, the Gators went on a 16-2 run to end the second quarter. Cain scored nine points during the run. Ashley Black added four points and Kaitlyn Watts added three points.
Baker led 22-12 at the half and held the lead the rest of the game.
Catholic scored five points to start the third quarter to close within five points of the Gators.
A basket by Watts and a 3-pointer by Cain put Baker’s lead back at double digits where it would stay the rest of the game.
Baker led 33-20 at the end of the third quarter and kept the pressure on the Crusaders in the fourth quarter to finish off the win.
Cain led Baker with 15 points. Watts added 11 points. Coleman pitched in 10 points to give the Gators three players in double figures.
Kerrell put the win in perspective.
“We still have a ways to go,” he said. “We still make freshman and sophomore mistakes, and that’s to be expected. I think we are making good strides in which directions we need to be going.
“A win is a win and is always a good momentum builder that gives the girls a little confidence.”
Catholic 8 4 8 9 – 29
Baker 6 16 11 11 – 44
CATHOLIC (29)
Abigal Hermann 4, Brook Labounty 2, Jenna Falco 2, Titanna Flemings 4, Isabella Williams 9, Baillie Padden 3, Ramsey Robison 3, D. Primm 2. Totals 11 1 4-10 29
BAKER (44)
Izzy Cain 15, Amanda Parisi 1, Ayajah Coleman 10, Kaitlyn Watts 11, Ashley Black 4, Olivia Hurley 1, Jene Elmer 2. Totals 11 5 7-13 44.
Baker-Catholic box
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker returns to winning ways against Catholic (PHOTOS)