This season has been a different one for the Elba girl’s basketball squad. Prior to this season, they had not lost a regular season game since Feb. 8, 2010.
This season they already have two losses within the Genesee Region League, but it looks like things are back to usual as the Lancers won their fifth-straight game, topping Northstar Christian, 69-51.
The Lancers lost four starters from a season ago, forcing players into roles that they have never had to fill. But, it appears as if they are finally settling in.
“It has taken some time,” said first year Head Coach Tom Redband. “All of these girls are in different roles than they ever have been before, but they have worked hard all season.”
One player in a different role is senior point guard Kelsey Bezon, who has taken on a do-it-all role.
Bezon filled the stat sheet again tonight, scoring a game-high 22 points, grabbing seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
“Kelsey has never been asked to be a full-time scorer,” Redband said. “She could score more if she wanted to, but she is a pass-first player. She loves making the pass and getting her teammates involved.”
Elba jumped out fast on the Knights, scoring 23 points in the first quarter and forcing nine turnovers in the opening frame.
Northstar boasted two players who average nearly 22 points per game each in Mary Roberts and Taylor Harris, and the Lancers got after them early.
“We knew we had to stop Roberts and Harris,” Redband said. “We made it a point of emphasis in practice to stop those two.”
The Lancers took a 17-point lead into halftime, due to Haley Brown, who scored 11 of her 14 points in the opening half.
Halfway through the fourth quarter Northstar freshman Madison Motsay hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to nine, but Elba rattled off five straight to put the game away.
Junior Alyssa Bogue was solid all night for the Lancers (11-2), scoring 18 points, pulling down 11 rebounds and five steals. Brown also added eight rebounds and five steals.
The two star Knights still managed to put up impressive numbers, with Roberts scoring 19 points to go along with 14 rebounds and four steals.
Harris may have had the highlight of the night, notching her 1,000th career point in the third quarter. She finished with a team-high 20 points, 11 rebounds and four steals.
Motsay also added 10 points for Northstar Christian (10-2).
