Combining balanced scoring and tough defense in the fourth period, the Alliance girl’s basketball team was able to best Crawford 49 to 41 in a ball game played in Alliance on Monday. Three Dogs-Reese Armstrong, Addison Weber, and Brooke Bailey- finished the night in double figurers. Top scorer was Armstrong who tossed in 15 points while ending with 11 each were Weber and Bailey. With the victory, AHS now has a 3 and 8 record for the season. Alliance won the JV affair, defeating the Rams 13 to 7 in a 2 period match up. The Bulldogs were up 44 to 41 in the final 3 minutes of the battle and scored the game’s final 5 points while holding the guests scoreless. AHS would outscore the Rams 12 to 8 in the final quarter in posting the W.
Highlights of the first period came from Armstrong who netting 8 tallies in the opener and a pair of treys by the visitors. Early baskets by Olivia Krejci, Armstrong, and Brinlee Lanik gave the hosts the early advantage at 6 to 2. Crawford came back strong with back to back threes and led 8 to 6 midway through the first. Six consecutive points by Armstrong ensued and the first came to an end with the Bulldogs in front 12 to 10.
Action again was tight in the second with both clubs scoring 10 points apiece. An Armstrong 3 began the scoring, putting the Lady Bulldogs ahead by 5. The guests then rallied. Crawford went on a 10 to 1 spree to take the lead at 20 to 16. Alliance’s lone tally came from a free throw by Paz Cody. At the 4 minute mark, the hosts were down by 4. Momentum went back to the Dogs in final stages of the half. Four Bailey points along while a Weber goal made the halftime scoreboard read Alliance 22 Crawford 20.
Period #3 was another nail biter. Alliance put 15 into the scoring column while the Rams had 13. Once again, three pointers by the guests kept Crawford close. After a free throw by Crawford, Weber swished a trey to help the Dogs stay out in front. The Rams answered back with back to back 3 balls to retake the lead at 27 to 25. A 5 to 0 spurt by the hosts was next as the Dogs got tallies by Krejci, Bailey, and Weber. Down 3, the Rams would tie the contest at 30 with a 2 pointer and a free throw. The third came to a conclusion with back to back hoops by Armstrong, another three by the Rams, and a Lanik trey. Heading to the fourth, the Dogs enjoyed a 4 points cushion at 37 to 33.
An old fashion three point play by Bailey is how the 4th started. It put the Bulldogs ahead by 7. After a bucket by the visitors, Lanik canned another three to keep the hosts out in the lead. Alliance’s margin then went to 9 on a Weber free throw. Behind 44 to 35, the Rams went on one final run. Six straight tallies by Crawford would slice their deficit to 3 with under 4 minutes remaining. Free throws by Weber and Bailey helped AHS build a 5 point margin in the final stages. The play of the game ensued as Weber stole a Ram pass and went in for a lay up that put the game away. Up 7, Bailey added a free throw in the final seconds as Alliance went on for the 49 to 41 win.
CRAW 10 10 13 8 41
ALL 12 10 15 12 49
Scoring for Alliance Weber 11 Bailey 11 Armstrong 15 Krejci 3 Lanik 8 Cody 1
Alliance will go to Bridgeport on Friday and host Lakota Tech on Saturday.