LISBON — There have been times this season where the Richmond and Lisbon girls basketball teams were on the cusp of winning that first game, only to suffer another loss.
On Saturday, the winless Bobcats and Greyhounds met in Mountain Valley Conference play knowing someone was going to leave Lisbon with that initial victory of the season.
Behind a balanced attack, visiting Richmond was able to get it, capturing a 36-29 win.
“It feels good. A monkey off our back,” said Richmond coach Mike Ladner. “We are starting to find our roles, along with the chemistry.”
It was the start of both halves that kick-started the Bobcats (1-6), who ran out to a quick 5-0 lead just a minute into the game, forcing a timeout by Lisbon coach Julie Petrie. The Bobcats added another bucket for a 7-0 start, and used an 8-0 run to open the second half, extending a 20-17 halftime lead to double digits.
“We had some time off to work on some things, and a lot is just confidence in the girls,” Ladner said.
For Petrie, it was a tough performance offensively that led to her team’s fifth loss.
“We are inconsistent right now and we haven’t put together a whole game yet,” said Petrie. “Defensively at times we’re right there, but offensively we need to hit those easy shots. Today we didn’t do that. We didn’t execute, and we’re working so hard defensively. You can’t win a game on one possession and we’re rushing in the offensive end.”
Hannah Moholland started the visitors off on the right foot, scoring her team’s first five points. After Lisbon’s timeout, Bryanne Lancaster scored inside for a 7-0 edge before the Greyhounds received a bucket each from Carly Drischler and Mallory Fairbanks.
Lancaster’s 3-pointer and a tough inside basket by Macy Carver gave Richmond a 12-4 edge before Drischler pulled down an offensive rebound and scored to close the opening quarter.
A key for Richmond was the play inside of forwards Carver and Lindsie Irish, along with guards Moholland and Lancaster. Each used their long reach to disrupt Lisbon shots as the Greyhounds were just 3-of-15 from the field in the opening quarter.
“We look to slow it down and get the ball inside to Macy, either for a touch or a post move,” said Ladner. “When Macy and Lindsie are out, we like to press defensively.”
Lisbon pushed back in the second quarter, drawing to within a point on two occasions. Charlee Cox scored inside to get the ‘Hounds to 15-14, and Valerie Doucette answered a Caitlin Kendrick trey with one of her own to bring Lisbon to 18-17 before a pair of free throws by Lancaster staked the Bobcats to a 20-17 halftime lead.
Richmond again started a half strong, with Carver converting inside, followed by three points from Moholland and a 3-pointer from Irish for a 28-17 advantage.
“I hope this is a confidence booster. We have been in every single game. It is just getting into a rhythm,” Ladner said.
“We worked well as a team, together. It feels amazing. We worked hard for this,” said Moholland, who finished with eight points and three steals.
Lancaster picked up eight points and 10 rebounds in the win, while Kendrick added six points, eight boards, four assists and three steals, and Carver four points and two blocked shots.
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