Bonney Lake's Carli Elwin scored a game-high 26 points to lead the visiting Panthers (6-8 overall, 4-1 South Puget Sound League 3A) to a 51-32 win over the Enumclaw Hornets (5-9, 1-4) on Tuesday.
The Panthers busted out of the gates early as they implemented a relentless full-court pressure defense that gave them a 17-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
"I was pleased with the start," Bonney Lake coach Thomas Ostrander said. "It's always tough to play at Enumclaw. They are very well-coached."
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The Hornets forced several turnovers by Bonney Lake in the second quarter to get back into the game. Richelle Carel's layup with 1:08 to go in the first half cut the Panthers' lead to 21-12.
Katie Holland battled foul trouble in this game but her aggressive play sparked Enumclaw with six points, helping the Hornets cut the lead to 44-30 in the fourth quarter.
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"She gave us good minutes with her drives to the basket and her defensive play," Enumclaw coach Beth Madill said. "We have got to keep her out of foul trouble and get her more minutes."
But the deficit would be too much to overcome; with Elwin's consistent scoring, the Panthers finished the game on a 7-2 scoring run.
"Carli did a great job of shot selection within the offense to get 26 points," Ostrander said.
"We did really good as a team," Elwin said. "It was a tough game and we played hard and got the win. Without my team, I can't do what I do on the floor."
Reflecting on the game, Madill said, "We have to transfer our confidence, composure and execution from practices to games."
As Enumclaw begins its second half of SPSL 3A league play, Madill is keeping the Hornets looking forward. "Everyone is getting a clean slate," she said.
After coming off of a three-win season in 2009-10, "It is a mental battle for us as well as a physical battle. We have to believe in competing when we play."
Enumclaw plays at Lakes at 7 p.m. Friday. Bonney Lake travels to Auburn Mountainview on Friday at 7 p.m.
Box Score
Bonney Lake 17| 7 |12|15 -- 51
Enumclaw 2| 10 | 7|13 -- 32
Scoring
Bonney Lake- Elwin 26, Messner 8, Moorehouse 6, Pounds 6, Foster 5
Enumclaw- Holland 6, Saltarelli 6, Snoen 6, Ferguson 5, Johnson 3, Huff 2, Roe 2, Carel 2
Total Fouls: Bonney Lake 18, Enumclaw 15