Cardinal girls close out 2014 on a high note with win

After a slow start with a pair of close losses, the Medical Lake girls basketball team capped the week with a dominating victory.

The Cardinals opened the week with a 53-42 loss at Chewelah in a Northeast A League contest. They followed that with a 47-42 nonleague loss at 2B Liberty and closed with an easy 52-23 win at home versus Deer Park.

Medical Lake (2-1 Northeast A, 2-4 overall) played with Chewelah last Tuesday through the first half, trailing 26-23, but the offense sputtered in the final half getting outscored 27-19.

“Yes we have to do a better job in the second half,” Cardinals’ head coach Kyle Lundberg said. “We are getting good shots we just have to make those shots.”

Maleeka Wegner’s 13 points led Medical Lake and the senior was the only Cardinal in double-figures.

The same scenario played out Wednesday in a game that had been rescheduled from an earlier postponement due to weather. Medical Lake led 31-28 at the break but scored just 11 second-half points.

“I have to do a better job in our second half strategy,” Lundberg said.

Cassidy Hagel paced the Cards with 14 points versus the Lancers (1-3 SE B, 3-4 overall). Wegner was the other ML player in double-figures with 11. “Both Cassidy and Maleeka played very well,” Lundberg said.

The Liberty game was the third straight road contest for Medical Lake. While it could be considered a factor, Lundberg said it was not.

“We definitely had a long week and the girls were tired,” he said. “But no excuses we have to execute and shoot better.” 

Lundberg also said playing down a classification in basketball means nothing.

“The B teams around here are extremely good,” Lundberg said. “They all play together from second grade through high school and have great chemistry.” That’s something Medical Lake needs to improve. “We have to have these girls playing together at a young age,” he added,

The Cardinals closed things out for both the week, and the preseason, with their big win over the Stags. They led 29-14 at the half and continued to pour it on in the third quarter.

Freshman Makayla Geiger and Wegner scored 10 points for the Cardinals. “Mak is a very strong competitor and has a strong desire to learn the game and work on her skills,” Lundberg said of Geiger. “She is very coachable and I expect big things from her.” 

Lundberg said he saw improved offensive numbers that were encouraging versus Deer Park. “We shot much better this game and we have to carry this momentum to our next game,” he said. 

The Cardinals now have a break until they host Rogers in a final tune-up game Saturday, Jan. 3 at 4:15 p.m. and they return to NEA competition hosting Colville, Tuesday, Jan. 6.

“This is a great group of girls and I’m so excited to see them getting better each day,” Lundberg, the Cards’ first-year coach said. “We have lots of work ahead but we are headed in the right direction.”

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].

 

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