Lady Yellowjackets make it look easy

MARBLE FALLS — The Llano High School girls basketball team steamrolled to a 68-39 win against Austin Travis Thursday.

The contest was the opener of the 2008 American Bank of Texas Girls’ Basketball Tournament for both squads.

Llano head coach Jessica Quintanilla said she was pleased with her squad’s performance.

“I told the kids as long as we have three people scoring in double figures, we’ll be successful,” she said. “Everybody’s contributing, not just one or two.”

Ashley Schroeder hit back-to-back three-pointers and passed to Olivia Hutto to pace the Lady Jackets in the first quarter. Allie Rostron found Caitlyn Coffey underneath the basket for a 13-5 lead. 

Coffey simply caught fire in the second quarter. She dropped in 17 of Llano’s 27 points for a 40-20 lead.

The senior post made a living at the low block thanks to sealing off defenders and getting wide. Lauren Parker got the ball to another player and she knew what to do with it. She also was a force on the glass and completed a three-point play on a putback.

Quintanilla said she called a timeout and asked her players to look at the Travis personnel. The coach asked the players what they need to do.

“Caitlyn said, ‘Get the ball inside to us,’” the coach recalled her senior post saying. “She wanted the ball. They were effective.”

The Lady Jackets followed the productive third by scoring just four points in the next eight minutes thanks to an Olivia Hutto putback and two Schroeder free throws.

“I told the kids we need to get back to our offensive flow,” Quintanilla said. “I told them that was unacceptable. There’s no way we can play a half, score 27 points and come out flat.”

Heeding their coach’s words, the Lady Jackets dropped in 24 points in the fourth period. Schroeder, Rostron, Hutto, Coffey and Parker contributed. 

Reserves took over in the final two minutes once the contest was secured. 

Coffey ended the game with 21 points followed by Schroeder with 15, including three 3s and 6-for-6 from the free throw line, Hutto added 10 and Rostron finished with nine. 

Quintanilla said she was pleased with Rostron and Coffey’s work at high and low post.

“It was effective,” she said. “That was the kids getting more confident.”

Coffey said the Lady Jackets were just adjusting to what was there.

“We had a big advantage,” she said. “We ate it up underneath the block. There were great passes. That’s what we’ve been working on all year.”

Rostron said the result was taking better care of the ball.

“We didn’t have as many turnovers as we normally do,” she said. 

Both acknowledged they’ve worked on the high-low plays.

“I’ve gotten to where I hear Caitlyn,” Rostron said, “I see her and get her the ball.”

Coffey agreed.

“We’ve gotten a lot better communicating and calling for the ball,” she said. “That’s how we’ve been successful.” 

Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images