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Bowman tough in win over Whiting
Updated: May 9, 2012 10:01AM
WHITING — There’s no secret about the intentions of the Bowman girls basketball team.
Part of a young charter school that already owns a state title (on the boys side) and a city that’s churned out numerous high profile basketball standouts, the team from Gary yearns for championship rings of their own.
But, like any significant goal, it’s going to take some work. And in a situation where coach Janora Holmes especially needs productivity from upperclassmen, Saturday’s arduous 62-46 win over the host Oilers wasn’t exactly the level of play expected at this point.
“I’m just fortunate that we came out with the win, but I’m not happy,” Holmes said after 25 minute post game meeting with her squad.
Though on paper the outcome may look like a sizeable gap, this contest had many moments where either side could’ve steered away.
Case in point, the very first moments.
Bowman jumped quickly on a 9-0 run, but lost the momentum as Whiting’s Brianna Blackwell found her groove with a pair of leveling three-pointers. By the end of the first quarter Bowman’s lead shrank to 18-14. And at the half, two more treys in the second quarter (including another one from Blackwell, who finished with four and led her team with 19 points) kept the deficit down to 31-26.
“Our girls have to understand one person can’t play an entire floor,” Holmes said of the riddles of guarding Blackwell. “We felt that if we can contain her, maybe we could get some defensive steals.”
A large ratio of turnovers, fouls, and miscues in the paint didn’t fade after the break, for either side. But Bowman’s energy received a boost from more than obvious offensive threat Princess German (a senior, who led Bowman with 21 points) in the latter half. Fellow seniors Diamond Delk (15 points, 8 rebounds) and RaShawnda Dunlap (10 points) combined for 15 points. And freshman Joshlynn King scored five in the half, finishing with 10.
With former Center Mariah Jordan now playing college hoops, Delk’s trying to utilize her first starts. Saturday’s her season high.
“Just our intensity and our heart to win,” said Delk of the winning factor. “We’ve got a lot to work on, we’ve got to talk on defense.”
Whiting’s mission comes down to the basics. With a small rotation, coach Kevin Moynihan points to learning and conditioning.
“Just keep growing, man, that’s what it’s all about,” he said.
Oiler senior Sayra Jimenez also chipped in 10 off the bench for the 2-2 team.
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