Sirbaugh scores 27 as Warriors top Judges

View larger image Sherando’s Morgan Sirbaugh (14) dribbles past Handley’s Cassie Alamo during their game Tuesday in Winchester. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image Audra Sites of Sherando dribbles past Cassandra Alamo of Handley in the third quarter. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image Allison Boespflug of Sherando looks to pass while guarded by Kirsten Ward of Handley. Dennis Grundman/Daily

By Dennis Atwood - sports@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- The Sherando Warriors expanded their tight two-point halftime lead with a strong second half for a 62-51 win over Handley in Northwestern District girls basketball action Tuesday evening.

The young Warriors, who start two freshmen, a junior, and two seniors, demonstrated more energy, cohesion, and desire for the win in the second half than did the Judges' five senior starters.

In the first half, there were eight lead changes and five ties, as the biggest lead was Sherando's 36-29 edge with 1:30 remaining in the second period.

Sherando senior Morgan Sirbaugh led the Warriors in the first half with 15 points, followed by Courtney Reid with seven.

Handley's Cassie Alamo opened the second half for the Judges (9-4, 1-2 Northwestern) with two 3-pointers, sandwiched around a Sirbaugh layup for the Warriors to give Handley its last lead of the game, 42-40, with 5:45 left in the third period.

Handley's Kirsten Ward scored all of the Judges' points for the remainder of the game. She had four field goals, all within three feet of the basket, and finished with a team-high 25 points.

Sherando (11-4, 3-1 Northwestern) got more balanced scoring for the rest of the contest. Sirbaugh finished with a game-high 27 points, 12 rebounds and three steals.

Freshman Jessica Hakel finished with 11 points and four steals for the Warriors.
The Warriors reached the largest lead of the game, 57-45, with 5:50 remaining in the contest. Seven of Sherando's 11 second-half baskets were layups.

"In the first half, [Handley] was shooting lights out from the 3-point line, and if we wanted to win the game we needed to stop that," Sirbaugh said. "So, we changed our defense up a little bit to take away the 3's. [In the second half] as a whole team, we attacked the basket better. We were finishing our shots, which is good. And our defense picked up. We brought the off-side defender over to help [on Ward] because she had a great first half. That was also a big emphasis for us. We also dove for loose balls, and we took charges. I'm proud of that."

It was somewhat lonely around the offensive rim for Ward, with her 25 point production accounting for just under half of the Judges' scoring, followed by Alamo with 12 points on four 3-pointers.

"We just need to keep our head together," Ward said. "After they caught the lead, our attitudes dropped. If we had kept together, it would have been a close game and we probably would have won."

Neither squad was particularly proficient at the charity stripe, with the Warriors going 5-for-10, and the Judges going 5-for-16.

"Sometimes you come in with a game plan and try to do too many things as a coach," Warriors coach Kevin Reed said. "[At halftime] I decided I needed to quit over-coaching and simplify things, and let the girls get comfortable and adjusted.

"The one thing I did say to them was, 'we have to come out in the second half with clear minds and clear vision of what we want to accomplish, and it starts with me.' So I think that gave us all a chance to settle down."