Truckee girls scratch and claw way to victory

The Truckee High girls basketball team outlasted Fernley Friday night, out-scrapping and outscoring the Vaqueros in the final quarter to pull away with a 50-34 victory.

“Our nerves were kicking in in the first half, and in the second half we just stepped it up and started playing more physical,” senior guard Felicia Tenorio said. “That ended up helping us win.”

The incessant thuds of bodies hitting the hardwood told the story of how physical the game was, as no player hesitated to dive on loose balls created by both teams’ relentless defensive pressure.

Senior small forward Erica Rice and junior point guard Kelly Stephens led the way defensively for the Wolverines, each pestering Fernley ball handlers and adding to their season steal totals.

Rice, who prides herself on defense, collected seven steals and scored 11 points while Stephens stole the ball six times and finished with a team-high 13 points. Rice also had seven assists and nine rebounds and Stephens had three assists. Tenorio led the team in rebounds, with 11, while chipping in nine points.

The score remained tight for three quarters, with the Vaqueros leading 15-13 at the half and Truckee leading 26-24 at the end of the third. Then the Wolverines caught fire, outscoring Fernley 24-10 in the final period to seal the win ” scoring only two fewer points in one quarter than in the rest of the game.

“We were definitely the quicker team,” said sophomore center Breanne Busby, who came off the bench to score four points and swat a couple shots inside. “They were playing really physically, and so we just brought it in the second half.”

Truckee head coach Angelo Tenorio said he was impressed with his team’s effort late in the game.

“They played a great second half,” he said. “A lot of good things happened for us because [the players] stayed positive and worked hard.

“Defensively, Erica and Kelly kept stealing the ball and creating a lot of opportunities for us, and that just changed the game. [Nicole] Panziera did a great job coming off the bench. She got some big rebounds for us.”

Scoring

Kelly Stephens ” 13

Erica Rice ” 11

Felicia Tenorio ” 9

Amanda Thorsby ” 7

Breanne Busby ” 4

Nicole Panziera ” 2

Corina Mincey ” 2

Alexis Fallow ” 2

Rebounds

Tenorio ” 11

Thorsby ” 10

Rice ” 9

Busby ” 8

Steals

Rice ” 4

Stephens ” 3