Lady Blazers excel in second half

Erick Starkey
Posted 1/26/18

The Torrington Lady Trailblazers were limited to three points in the second quarter and went into the break down 20-17, but a big second half helped Torrington pick up the 49-39 home win Tuesday over Gering, Neb.

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Lady Blazers excel in second half

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TORRINGTON – The Torrington Lady Trailblazers were limited to three points in the second quarter and went into the break down 20-17, but a big second half helped Torrington pick up the 49-39 home win Tuesday over Gering, Neb.

“It was a physical game of a couple teams that really don’t have a lot of love for one another,” coach Jeff Halley said. “I was proud of our girls that we kept our composure and played good basketball down the stretch.”

The Lady Blazers took a 14-10 lead after the first frame, but Gering held Torrington to three points in the second quarter, while scoring another 10 points to put the game at 20-17 at halftime.

“We started out really well. Then the second quarter shooting woes came back to get us,” Halley said. “But the girls responded really well by turning defense into offense in the third and we put 20 up there.”

In that third quarter, the Lady Blazers poured in 20 points, while holding the Bulldogs to 11 points to wrestle away the lead and build a 37-31 lead of their own. In the fourth, Torrington again had the edge, outscoring Gering 12-8 to seal the win.

“I really like the way our girls are learning to win and finish games,” Halley said.

Logan Murphy paced the Lady Blazers with 12 points to her credit, including three from behind the arc. She also led Torrington with eight rebounds, including four on offense, while rounding out her stat line with an assist, three steals and two blocks.

Taylor Walsh joined Murphy in double-figures, tallying 11 points, with three from three-point land. She also had six rebounds, two assists and a team-high of four steals. Fellow senior Hailey Hashman was not far behind in the scoring department, tallying nine points, four rebounds and two steals.

Chrissy Lira chipped in eight points in the win, including four from the free-throw line where she was perfect (4-for-4). Filling up her stat line, Lira had six boards and two steals. Brooklyn Tucker kicked in five points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Adia Sherbeyn and Sam Hill rounded out the scoring, with two points apiece, combining for four rebounds, an assist, three steals and a block.

With the win over the out of state opponent, Torrington upped its record to 5-7 on the year, with a 2-0 mark against quadrant opponents. The Lady Blazers have a big quadrant test tonight (Friday), when they host top-ranked Douglas, who is undefeated at 12-0 and 2-0 in the quadrant. The varsity action tips off at 5:30 p.m.