Lady Broncos win in blowouts, improve to 4-1 in league play

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague girls basketball team rang in 2020 with a home win over Asotin Friday night, 64-21, and a 59-46 road win against Reardan on Saturday.

Friday’s win over Asotin was a one-sided affair from the start. The Lady Broncos took the lead for good just 10 seconds into the first quarter when Dakota Killian scored from the post.

Not liking what she saw on the court, Asotin head coach Krisi Pratt called a timeout just three minutes into the game. It didn’t seem to pay off as Asotin turned the ball over on its next two positions and LRS capitalized each time with fastbreak baskets to go up 8-1.

The turnovers were caused by a relentless full-court press defense by LRS. Asotin answered back by pressing as well, but the Broncos had no problem breaking it.

Several Asotin turnovers later, LRS led 18-1 before the Panthers got their first field goal of the game off their own fast break.

Up 18-3, LRS head coach Steve Wellsandt called off the full-court press with under two minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Broncos closed the quarter leading 20-3.

The second quarter saw neither team press. LRS’s half-court defense remained fierce and the Panthers didn’t score until after the midway point of the quarter when they made a free-throw. They would later get another free-throw to bring their score to five. The Broncos closed out the quarter 32-5.

The Panthers opened the second half pressing again. They forced a turnover that set up a fastbreak to open scoring. Then, they got a stop and setup a play that resulted in a three-pointer.

The quarter ended with the Broncos leading 53-19. With 14 points, it was Asotin’s best quarter.

The fourth quarter saw the Broncos go deep into their bench. Three players who also play on the junior varsity team, Myra Miller, Grace Fedie and Amelia Court, got into the game, with Court and Miller scoring. LRS hung on to cruise to victory.

Killian finished with 25 points. Eliza Galbreath and Julia Klein each added 10.

After the game, LRS head coach Steve Wellsandt said he was glad to be able to go to the bench so he could rest his starters for Reardan the next day.

“Reardan is a good team,” Wellsandt said. “They will be a test for us.”

LRS passed that test. Wilkie scored 15 points, Eliza Galbreath had 14 points and Killian had 13 points to lead the Lady Broncos over Reardan. The Lady Broncos are now 7-4 overall, and 4-1 in league play.