Girls Hoops: Eastside Catholic loses close game against Bellevue in district finals
The Eastside Catholic girls basketball team lost to the Bellevue Wolverines 60-57 on Saturday night in the District 2 finals, ending their hopes of becoming district champions after a close contest.
The loss also snaps the Crusaders’ nine-game winning streak, with their last loss being against Roosevelt on Jan. 23. It is also only their third defeat since Jan. 1. They won 15 out of their last 18 games before this loss.
Despite the loss, Eastside Catholic’s Amy Nduka scored 24 points, contributing massively to both the offensive and defensive sides of the game.
“Amy is just a star, period. She’s a smart young lady. She’s a great teammate and the ultimate all around player. She’s also super funny to those that know her. She has so much more to gain as she’s only a sophomore. I’m scared to see who she will be her senior year,” said Eastside Catholic head coach Darnellia Russell.
Nduka often served as the target player in attack, using her 6-foot-4 height to receive the ball over her marker’s head. She was guarded by Bellevue’s Trinity Palmer-Wilson in the first half, allowing her to shake off the 5-foot-9 defender easily. Bellevue changed their tactics in the second half, using 6-foot-1 Lyla Jones and 6-foot-2 Clara Stowe to defend Nduka.
“I think I’m really good at drawing fouls and attacking the basket. I know when I go downhill, it’s kind of over for everybody, but also just expanding my range,” said Nduka.
As the game went on, the Wolverines addressed Nduka’s outstanding ability to receive the ball under the basket and go for a layup. Bellevue often put two or more players to guard her in the second half, leading to them conceding many fouls during Nduka’s drives to the rim.
Nearing the end of the game, Nduka was placed on the three point line to help with building attacks from the back, as the Crusaders were finding trouble progressing the play into the paint. Eastside Catholic utilized her height advantage to claim the ball in between lines and under pressure, allowing for progression.
As Bellevue tried to put the game to bed, one of the fans in the bleachers repeatedly yelled “put a screen on Amy.”
The Wolverines pressured Nduka high up throughout the game, but at times, the execution left massive gaps behind the two or three-person press. Nduka exploited those gaps and found her teammates, who were able to finish with layups.
Eastside Catholic utilized a 2-3 defense throughout the game, with four players on or around the three point line and Nduka as the center and the only player fully protecting the rim. This playing style relied heavily on the effectiveness of Nduka, with her acting as the rim protector and anchor who is responsible for stopping dribbles.
She proved to be effective in this role. Even when the Wolverines penetrated the first line of defense, Nduka would take advantage of her height to execute blocks at the rim, denying attackers multiple times throughout the game.
In the first half, Nduka was guarding Bellevue’s Lauryn Keilman. Nduka cut out service to Keilman, not allowing a single point from her.
Three pairs of free throws were called in favor of Wolverines Navyi Robinson and Syesha Simanton in the last minute of the game, of which five of the six were converted. Sa’Fine Sampson’s triple at the buzzer was not enough for the Crusaders, ending the game 60-57, Bellevue.
Although losing out on the trophy, coach Russell said she was “very proud of my team.”
“They came ready to play. We were well prepared. They are proud they competed. Failed short but we’ll see them again for sure. I believe this lit a fire in my team,” she said.
Eastside Catholic will play Ridgeline at West Valley High School in Spokane for the state tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 2:00 p.m.
