Reardan's defense shines in lop-sided win

REARDAN – After being tested early by Medical Lake, the Screaming Eagles' girls basketball team raced to a 51-17 win Saturday, Jan. 11. It was the 10th straight win for the #4 ranked Screaming Eagles.

In an atypical start, Reardan's potent offense was held to only nine first quarter points by Medical Lake.

"We started the game slow," Reardan head coach Bob Swannack said. "Our offense was undisciplined, and we did a poor job taking care of the ball. We couldn't make shots or layups."

After the first quarter, Reardan led 9-6.

The Cardinals were scoreless over the next two quarters, which was their undoing.

"Though we started the game slow, I think we did everything right defensively," Swannack said.

At halftime the Screaming Eagles led 26-6. They stretched that lead to 35-6 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Medical Lake came to life on offense. Adasha Gardner scored five points and Addison Hammel and Jocee Bryant both scored three points. Despite their 11 points, Reardan outscored them 16-11. Emersen Sprecher scored nine points in the quarter for the Screaming Eagles as they cruised to the 51-17 win.

Chasyn Waters led the Screaming Eagles with 13 points to go along with five steals. Sprecher scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Tenice Waters had eight points, four rebounds and five steals. Olivia Wicks scored six points, hauled in six rebounds and had six steals. Mackenzie Bjornberg scored five points and recorded seven rebounds and three steals. Rylynn Green had four points and six rebounds. Isabella Abrahamson and Amelia Ray rounded out the scoring with three and two points, respectively. Raegan Soliday had four rebounds and three steals.

"Mackenzie (Bjornberg) did a great job battling on the glass," Swannack said. "Emersen was a beast rebounding in the fourth quarter. Olivia is my steady Eddie and gets a lot of credit for this win. She's not in a hurry and takes care of the basketball."

Gardner scored five points for Medical Lake, followed by Hammel, Bryant, Ayae Brown and Isabel Barry, each with three. Bryant grabbed eight rebounds and had one blocked shot. Kadence Endres had four rebounds and two steals.

"I think we did really well in the first quarter," Medical Lake head coach Yeta Holloway said. "We held them to nine points. This was by far the best game we've played as far as defensive pressure."

The win improved Reardan's record to 12-1 and left Medical Lake at 4-8. The Screaming Eagles' next home game is against Newport, Friday, Jan. 14. Medical Lake plays Riverside at home Tuesday, Jan. 28.