VEGAS INVITE: Badua-Kono, fundamentals lead Lake Mead girls past Western
After watching his team struggle at the Pahrump Valley Cage Classic, Lake Mead girls basketball coach Derek Anderson had his players focus on fundamentals last week in practice.
The back-to-basics emphasis must have clicked, and the Eagles (9-2) returned to their winning ways Monday with a 72-43 rout of Western (4-6) in the first round of the Vegas Invitational at Mountain View.
“I think they learned their lessons from last week,” Anderson said. “We just went back to work and had a good week of practice. We went back to fundamentals, and that’s what it took. The girls have to know that if they play fundamentally sound, we’re going to be fine.”
None looked sharper than Lake Mead’s Taylor Badua-Kono. The sophomore guard poured in 31 points, including 13 in the first quarter as Lake Mead built an 18-3 lead.
Junior guard Jordan Clarke added 24 points for Lake Mead, which cruised to the win after outscoring Western 27-8 in the third quarter.
“Jordan and Taylor feed off of each other,” Anderson said. “Jordan saw her and got her some easy looks, and with Taylor, she’s the first one down the court every time. With Jordan looking for her (on the fast break), it’s a blessing.”
Megan Watkins scored 10 points for Lake Mead, which got five points and 11 rebounds from Heather Hillenbrand.
The Eagles were strong defensively as well, holding the Warriors to 17-for-63 shooting (27 percent).
“We kind of stepped up our pressure, and the girls really feed into that,” Anderson said. “Overall, we still have a lot of work to do, but we’re getting better.”
Now Lake Mead hopes the win doesn’t come at too high a price.
Clarke left the game with 4:14 remaining after suffering what appeared to be a right knee injury. The severity of the injury wasn’t immediately known.
“There isn’t any swelling right now, so we’ll just have to wait and see,” Anderson said. “She’s kind of our Batman and Robin with her and (Badua-Kono). Hopefully she’ll be OK.”
The Eagles will meet Skyline (Calif.) in the quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Naz Lockett led Western with 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
Brandi Jackson scored 10 points for the Warriors, and teammate Brittany Moreland supplied nine points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.
Clark 38, Calvary Chapel 25 — Angelena Cook’s eight points led a balanced Clark offense as the Chargers downed the Lions.
Michelle Garcia tallied seven points and five rebounds for Clark, and teammate Ashley Robinson contributed two points and eight rebounds.
Deja Harris scored seven points for Calvary Chapel, which trailed 17-4 at halftime.
Mountain View 51, Sunrise Mountain 24 — Briana Marruffo scored 17 points to help the Saints beat the Miners.
Patrice Marshall tallied nine points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Saints, and teammate Jordan Davison had nine points and nine rebounds.
Jasmine Jones paced Sunrise Mountain with six points.
Mountain View 67, Adelson School 18 — Marshall scored 15 points and Katelyn Krebs added 12 points to help the Saints rout the Lions.
Mountain View raced to a 35-5 lead heading into the second quarter.
Alexes Settle and Sueleika Blackwell scored seven points apiece for Adelson School.
Needles 59, Sunrise Mountain 46 — Holly Laswell scored 17 points and Abby Chandler tallied 15 points as the Mustangs downed the Miners.
Da’Nisha Wedlow led Sunrise Mountain with 13 points, and Jasmine Jones added 11 points.
Chadwick School (Calif.) 46, Pahranagat Valley 35 — Haley Bush arrived in the second quarter and then scored all 12 of the Dolphins’ points in the period to help Chadwick rally past the Panthers.
Bush finished with 21 points.
Halie Lewis led Pahranagat Valley with 13 points.
Gig Harbor (Wash.) 62, Needles 42 — Jenna Dewalt scored 13 of her 17 points in the first half to lead the Tides past the Mustangs.
Gena Chavira led Needles with 14 points.
Skyline (Calif.) 59, Agassi Prep 16 — Lauren Hill scored 11 points to lift the Titans past the Stars.
Alannah Conway led Agassi Prep with seven points.
