The Palo Alto High School girls’ basketball team lost to Pleasant Grove Wednesday night, 66-56. The game was full of aggresive defense and an abundance of fouls that led to the game being decided in the final minutes.
The scoring began when the Vikings struck first as Emilee Osagiede (‘12) made a lay up off a Stephanie Allen (‘13) assist. The Vikings struck again as Charlotte Alipate (‘14) drove down the lane and made a lay up to put the Vikings up, 4-0. Pleasant Grove responded by sinking a floater to cut the deficit to 4-2. The Vikings continued their scoring as Lindsay Black (‘12) made a field goal along with a three pointer and Danielle Palmer (‘14) and Allen both drained three pointers. After Allen’s three the Vikings led 14-6.
However, Pleasant Grove proved they were not going down without a fight and came back with five quick points off a field goal and a three pointer. Osagiede and Black both made two more field goals along with two Pleasant Grove field goals to make the score 21-15 at the end of the first quarter.
Pleasant Grove opened the second quarter energized and ready to score. After making two free throws and a jump shot they had cut the Paly lead to 21-19. After Black scored off of an Osagiede assist, Pleasant Grove came back by scoring an easy lay up off of a rebound. The Lady Vikes extended their lead after Osagiede made another lay up and Josie Butler (‘13) got a steal that led to a fast break lay up. With 4:22 left in the quarter the Vikings led 27-21. Pleasant Grove saw the score sliding away and was quick to respond. they went on a 7-0 run that gave them their first lead of the game, 27-28. With 29 seconds left in the half Osagiede made two free throws followed by a lay up with four seconds remaining. Pleasant Grove was able to secure one more fast break lay up to make the score 31-30, Paly at half time.
As the second half opened Paly’s shooting cooled off and the lead began to teeter back and forth between both teams for much of the third quarter. Pleasant Grove took the lead with a quick jump shot 21 seconds into the half, only to lose it when Osagiede made a lay up of a Butler assist. Allen increased the Paly lead to four by making a lay up with 6:26 left in the quarter. Down 35-32 with 5:11 left in the quarter, Pleasant Grove scored five straight points to take the lead 35-37. Allen drove to hoop and made a lay up to tie the ball game at 37-37. Butler and a Pleasant Grove player then traded three pointers, while another Pleasant Grove player made two free throws. At the end of the third Pleasant Grove led 40-42.
Both teams came into the fourth quarter with the tenacity of a pack of wolves. Aggressive defense and quick play led to each team speedily being in the bonus. Pleasant Grove struck first, making a three pointer 30 seconds into the quarter. Osagiede answered by making a three pointer of her own and making the score, 43-45. After a Pleasant Grove basket Osagiede was fouled and made both free throws.
Paly’s defensive attack hurt them as fouls put Pleasant Grove players on the charity arc two possessions in a row. Pleasant Grove capitalized by extending their lead to 45-50 with 5:53 left in the game. Osagiede continued her dominant play by securing a steal that led to her making one of two free throws. This energized Black who on the next possession fought hard for a rebound and put it back in the hoop to make the score 48-50. Pleasant Grove made two more free throws to make the score 48-52.
Allen then made a lay up that was answered by two Pleasant Grove field goals. Osagiede then went on a tear of her own by making two straight lay ups and a free throw on consecutive possessions. After Allen made a free throw the score was tied at 56-56 with two minutes left in the game. Despite the Lady Vikes resurgence the Pleasant Grove free throw shooting proved to be too much for Paly to handle. The Vikes did not score the rest of the evening as Pleasant Grove players drained free throw after free throw. The final score was 56-66, Pleasant Grove.
Osagiede finished with 25 points for the Lady Vikes and Black finished with 11. Despite impressive transition and fast break play the Vikings were hindered by the plethora of foul calls made by the referees. The Vikings aggressive defensive attack hurt them as they were in foul trouble early in both halves.
After the game point guard Lindsay Black lamented on the loss.
“At the end of the game I just think we lack a little bit of control when pressure starts to get to us.” Black said. “Things just didn’t go our way and we couldn’t build up enough momentum with all the foul calling cause we were both in double bonus.”
Head Coach Scott Peters shared similar disappointment in the lack of shooting ability and the abundance of foul calls.
“I was happy with how aggressive we came out and how physical we were.” Peters said. “They’re a good team and they made their shots. They were 25 of 34 from the foul line and we were 9 of 23. In a close game when you start fouling at the end that makes all the difference.”
This loss ends the Vikings season and hopes of a state championship appearance.