The Grand girls basketball team had a rough week, going win-less in three region games with a 64-51 home loss to Emery on Tuesday, Jan. 21, a 56-36 road loss to South Sevier on Friday, Jan. 24 and a 49-47 road loss in overtime to North Sevier on Saturday, Jan. 25.
Saturday’s game was close throughout as the Lady Devils maintained a slim lead through most of the contest, coach Tony Chacon said. The Lady Devils had a chance to win in regulation, but sophomore Talaunee Croasmun drew contact on a missed layup and no foul was called.
Croasmun, who had 1 point before overtime, hit a pair of 3-pointers, including one from near half court, to erase a 6-point overtime deficit, but the Wolves were able to respond for the 2-point victory.
“We had a couple of key turnovers and a 5-second call that cost us in overtime,” Chacon said. “We were basically trading baskets with them and they got one more than we did. But our girls played with a lot of intensity and vigor, and that’s what we need to win with these girls.”
Senior Shailee Croasmun scored 18 points before fouling out in overtime to lead the Lady Devils, who also got contributions from sophomore Symony Call with 8 points, Talaunee Croasmun and junior Brook Schultz with 7 points, junior Sadie Hansen with 5 points and senior Alena Geiser with 2 points.
“It was a hard fought game at both ends,” Chacon said. “Our defense was very tough. Shailee was able to get her shots off and we had others contributing as well.”
The Lady Devils shot 13-of-18 from the line against the Wolves, a 5-point improvement from their 8-of-20 showing Friday night against the No. 5-ranked Rams, who jumped out to a double-digit lead over the jet-lagged Lady Devils in the first quarter en route to the lopsided victory.
“I think we just had players tired from going to the senior Snow Ball the night before then not getting any sleep on the bus ride over,” Chacon said. “We just had bus legs and with a team like South Sevier, you have to be firing on all cylinders. They pressed us and got us into a lot of turnovers.”
Shailee Croasmun led Grand with 22 points, while the rest of the team combined to score 14. Senior Alexandra Gomez provided a spark off the bench, scoring 4 quick points in a limited role thanks to a foot injury she’s struggled throughout the season to recover from, Chacon said.
Five different Rams players scored at least 6 points, led by Brielle Chisholm with 19.
“On the defensive end, we didn’t come out with any intensity whatsoever,” Chacon said. “We’ve got to get our rest the night before games and on the bus rides over. A three-and-a-haf-hour bus ride takes a lot of you if you can’t sleep on the bus.”
Against No. 2-ranked Emery on Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Spartans quickly jumped out to a 23-3 first-quarter advantage, thanks in part to the name across the front of their jerseys, Chacon said.
“These girls haven’t won a whole lot of games the past few years, so when they saw ‘Emery’ printed across the front of their jerseys, they already didn’t think they could win,” he said.
The Spartans expanded their lead to 30 points in the second quarter before the Lady Devils fought back with a 12-3 run to close the gap to 41-20 at halftime. Talaunee Croasmun scored 11 of her team leading 23 points in the second quarter, including two 3-pointers. Seniors Shailee Croasmun and Alena Geiser scored 9 points and 8 points in the loss.
Chacon conceded that the Lady Devils had a rough week, but said he is encouraged moving forward.
“Everyone expected North Sevier to blow us out after they beat San Juan by more than 30 points the night before,” Chacon said. “But I think we proved to ourselves that we can play with theses teams. The girls just need to realize it’s five girls against five girls and they’ve got to bring it every night. Once we quit getting panicky, we can play with anyone,”
The Lady Devils (9-5, 2-3 Region 15) were also scheduled to play a home game versus Dove Creek, Colo., on Tuesday, Jan. 28, before continuing their region slate with a road game against Wasatch Academy on Thursday, Jan. 30. They’re scheduled to play San Juan in the Devils’ Den on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Each game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Home game on Feb. 4
“The girls just need to realize it’s five girls against five girls and they’ve got to bring it every night. Once we quit getting panicky, we can play with anyone.”
When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 4
Where: Grand County High School, 608 S. 400 East
