BAKER — In time Baker School’s girls basketball team will reach a point when the rebuilding is over and the program is on solid ground.
Right now there is work to do for second-year Coach James Kerrell and his team. When a team measures its successes in baby steps and effort any win, even an ugly one, is worth celebrating.
Thursday night the Gator picked up one of those ugly wins as they beat Rocky Bayou Christian 40-32.
Baker-Rocky Bayou Christian girls basketball photos>>>
“It’s still a growing process,” Kerrell said. “It’s little things here and there (the team needs to work on). The big picture is it’s getting better.
“The good thing too is – especially with injuries – a lot of my younger girls are getting a lot of playing time and touches on the ball. That’s a good thing for the future.”
Just how ugly was game?
The teams were whistled for a combined total of 49 fouls and each team shot 34 free throws. Baker made 18 of their free throws while the Knights only connected on 11 shots from the charity stripe.
In the first quarter Baker (5-12) looked as if it was on its way to an easy win.
Eighth grader Isabella Cain opened the scoring with a 3-point basket for the Gators with 5:35 left in the first quarter and Baker led throughout the rest of the first half.
However things weren’t as easy as they perhaps should have been as a pesky Rocky Bayou team wouldn’t go away. Tarvey Edeliena hit a basket to put the Knights within a point of the Gators.
Baker answered with a basket by Ashley Black and another 3-pointer by Cain.
The Gators led 11-4 at the end of the first quarter, but the Knights scored six unanswered points to open the second period and pull to within a point of Baker.
Black then took over scoring six of the next 10 Gator points to give Baker a 21-11 lead at the half.
Dana Andrews, who led the Knights in scoring with 12 points, led a third quarter RBCS rally. Rocky Bayou outscored Baker 14-4 in the third quarter to pull even with the Gators.
An Andrews’ free throw 20 seconds into the fourth quarter gave the Knights their first and only lead of the game.
Olivia Hurley’s only basket of the game with 7:06 left in the fourth quarter put the Gators back in front once and for all.
The key moment in the game might have occurred with 6:04 left in the fourth quarter. The Gators were clinging to a 27-26 lead when Kerrell was called for a technical foul upon expressing his displeasure with a foul called against the Gators.
The Knights then stepped to the line and missed four straight free throws.
Jessica Black hit four straight free throws on Baker’s next two possessions to stretch the Gator lead to five points as they went on for the win.
Ashley Black led Baker in scoring with 12 points. Cain added 10 points and Jessica Black scored six points.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Kerrell looks at big picture in Baker win (PHOTOS, VIDEO)