Eagles live and die with 3-ball

By Reggie Stiteler
Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 2:47 PM CST
Mt Shasta News

When the three-point shots go in they win; when they don't, well, it certainly makes things harder. Such was the case for the College of the Siskiyous women's hoops squad in their opening week of Golden Valley Conference play.

After converting just 10 of 42 three-point attempts Wednesday of last week in a loss to Butte College, the Eagle women hit a trey on each of their first four possessions Saturday at College of the Redwoods on their way to an 83-44 triumph.

Kristi Arness connected from beyond the arc on the Eagles' first two possessions, followed by Ally West's three-point basket the next time they had the ball. A third trey by Arness soon followed.

Add in a couple steals, and before Redwoods knew what hit them, the Eagles were up 18-0, then 54-20 at the half.

“They always play well at home,” coach Tom Powers said of Redwoods. “But we put the K.O. on them pretty early.”

Karlee Myers led the Siskiyous with 24 points followed closely by Arness's 21.

But for as hot as the Eagles shot Saturday, they were just as cold against Butte in their GVC opener three days before.

After clawing back from a 10-point first half deficit, the Eagles tied the Lady Runners at 30 going into the intermission.

Siskiyous came out of the locker room strong in front of a large home crowd, as West hit two three-point baskets and Kelly Stephens one for a 44-40 COS advantage.

But Butte rallied and held a 4 to 10 point edge the rest of the game, out-scoring the Eagles 78-72 by the end. The Lady Runners finished at 50 percent from behind the arc, 13 for 26.

“I thought we did a pretty good job for not shooting that well,” Powers said. Despite their struggles behind the arc, Siskiyous shot well from the free throw line, converting 18 of 21 chances.

West led the Eagles with 23 points against Butte while Myers chipped in 21 and Crissy Watts added 10.

Siskiyous had a scare late in the Butte game as point guard Amanda Harris, who has been battling a sore shoulder, went down with a concussion. She recovered to take the court at Redwoods Saturday, where coach Powers said she played at about 90 percent. Powers hopes to have Harris at full strength this week as they travel to Quincy to challenge Feather River before hosting rival Shasta College this Saturday in Weed.