The Washington Lady Blue Lions opened the 2021-22 high school basketball season Saturday, Nov. 20 with a home game against the Pioneers from Zane Trace High School.
Washington scored first and never trailed en route to a 44-33 victory.
Washington senior Aaralyne Estep was the game’s leading scorer with a career-high 18 points. She also had five rebounds, two assists and a team-leading four steals. Estep also hit both of Washington’s three-point field goals.
Junior Megan Sever scored eight points and led Washington with nine rebounds. She also led her team in assists with four, to go along with three steals and one blocked shot.
Junior Allie Mongold scored seven points.
Junior Natalie Woods scored six points for Washington and sophomore Alizae Ryan scored five points.
Senior Emily Allen was the leading scorer for Zane Trace with nine points. Junior Kinley May scored eight points and junior Alexis Farley scored six points.
Estep put the first points on the board with a three-point basket with 5:30 remaining in the first quarter.
Zane Trace scored 51 seconds later, but the visitors would not get any closer the remainder of the game.
Washington outscored Zane Trace 9-2 to take a 12-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was the closest of the game, with Washington scoring 10 points to eight for Zane Trace.
The Lady Lions led 22-12 at the half.
To start the third quarter, Zane Trace went on a 7-2 run to pull to within five points, 24-19.
Washington responded with a scoring run of its own, putting 10 points on the board to one for the Pioneers to extend the lead to 34-20 at the 1:57 mark of the third quarter.
Washington led 36-21 after three quarters of play.
The Lady Lions held fast to the lead, going up by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Zane Trace fought to get as close as nine points, but could not overcome the deficit as Washington posted the 44-33 victory.
“We were really excited for our season-opener, to come away with a win today,” Washington head coach Samantha Bihl said. “Our j-v did a good job and then our varsity followed.
“We did get a bit loose with the ball and had a few too many turnovers,” Bihl said. “But, we survived the day. The girls played hard and they did it together.
“Aaralyne Estep had an excellent game,” Bihl said. “Megan Sever had a great stat line. She had a lot of rebounds and steals.
“It was a great team effort,” Bihl said. “The girls who came off the bench gave us big minutes and really contributed.”
Washington plays Tuesday at Unioto with the j-v game starting at 5:30 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
W 12 10 14 8 — 44
ZT 4 8 9 12 — 33
WASHINGTON — Aaralyne Estep 3 (2)-6-18; Allie Mongold 3-1-7; Trinity George 0-0-0; Alizae Ryan 1-3-5; Natalie Woods 3-0-6; Megan Sever 3-2-8; Addie Shiltz 0-0-0. TOTALS — 13 (2)-12-44. Free throw shooting: Three-point field goals: Estep, 2. Field goal shooting: 15 0f 39 for 38 percent. Three-point field goal shooting: 2 of 5 for 40 percent. Turnovers: 21. Blocked shots: 2. Steals: 10. Rebounds: 22 (5 offensive). Assists: 10.
ZANE TRACE — Gretchen Roberts 1-0-2; Brooklyn Wade 0-0-0; Emily Allen 3-3-9; Alexis Farley 2-2-6; Alara Crow 0-0-0; Kinley May 4-0-8; Gracey McCullough 2-1-5; Kendra Detillion 0-1-1; Kyrsten O’Neil 0-0-0; Avery Johnson 1-0-2. TOTALS — 12-7-33. Free throw shooting: 7 of 13 for 54 percent. Three-point field goals: none. Field goal shooting: 12 of 42 for 29 percent. Turnovers: 14.
Lady Lions win j-v game against Zane Trace
In the j-v game Saturday, Washington defeated Zane Trace, 38-18.
Trinity George was the game’s high scorer for Washington with 14 points, including one three-point basket.
Jada Ryan scored 10 points, Alaysia Dotson and Addison Shiltz both scored six points and Keeona Ramirez and Kaithlyn Maquilling each scored one.
Madison McDonald led Zane Trace with seven points. Adison Muntz scored five, Lily Rose had three and Giana Saboley scored one.
Washington plays at Unioto Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
