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VICTORY WITHIN REACH - Maeve McCormick helped La Conner gain the upper hand in its season opener at home against Squalicum of Bellingham last week.
The La Conner High School girls' basketball team brought more than its "A" game to last week's home and road openers.
The Lady Braves, under first-year head coach Joe Harper, bolted out of the gate with their "2A" game, easily downing Northwest Conference non-league foes Squalicum 50-23 at home Nov. 28 and Anacortes 62-42 Dec. 1.
Ellie Marble and Josie Harper each scored in double figures to highlight the season debut at Landy James Gym. The hosts broke it open with a 32-11 run that buried Squalicum in the second half.
Marble, working mostly in the paint, tallied 14 points after intermission when the team took control of the game. Harper, who drained three perimeter treys, scored 10 second half points.
Makayla Herrera, Maeve McCormick, Shaniquah Casey and Kennedy Miller rounded out the attack.
With the score tied 10-10 late in the second quarter, Casey meshed a 10-foot jumper. After Squalicum briefly knotted the score 12-12 with a driving layin, Harper responded with a long three-pointer, putting the Lady Braves ahead for good.
A putback by Herrera and free throw by Marble closed out the half.
The spurt carried over to the third quarter, with Harper converting a coast-to-coast layup out of the break that triggered a 16-5 spurt.
Marble and Herrera dominated play in the key, wearing down Squalicum with their high-low post game while crashing the offensive glass.
Ten of Marble's game-high 18 boards came at the offensive end. Herrera grabbed nine rebounds, five of which resulted in second shot opportunities.
Herrera was also on the receiving end of a deft bounce pass in transition from Casey that produced a layup and the largest lead at 48-17 midway through the final stanza.
At Anacortes, La Conner opened with a strong first quarter, setting the tone by taking an early 16-4 lead.
Harper led all scorers with 20 points. Herrera and Marble chipped in 18 and 15 points, respectively. McCormick contributed another eight points.
Last nigh the Lady Braves entertained 4A Jackson High of Mill Creek .
La Conner, the defending NW2B champion, is at 1A Blaine tomorrow, Dec. 8, before returning home for a Saturday game with 4A Skyline at 7 p.m.
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