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Players from both opposing schools claimed their spots for the jump ball. Grizzlies center, Emily Fechner, out jumped Thunderbirds center, Rayne Hill, for the tip.

“We practiced hard, and that brought over to the game, we played hard and we got the results of a win!” said assistant coach Jason.

As first quarter began, the ball was tipped to Ashlee Halopoff, who passed to Chelsea Dillahunty. As Halopoff got the ball back, she passed to Vanessa Ramirez, and then passed it inside to Fechner, who scored the first points of the game.

Thunderbirds point guard, Susie Hernandez, dribbled up court and passed, but Granite’s forward, Taylor Means, blocked her pass out of bounds. In the next Thunderbird possession, Hernandez passed to Hill, who was called for a travel.

The Thunderbirds put a press on the Grizzlies from the very start, but this didn’t affect the play of the Grizzlies. As Fechner threw the ball successfully in to Ramirez, all they had to do was get it up the court. Halopoff, the point guard, was completely covered, so Fechner took it down.

One point in the first quarter, Halopoff passed the ball to Dillahunty, she was looking for Ramirez to be open and as she passed she threw the ball away. Luckily the ball was loose and Dillahunty recovered her mistake this time successfully throwing it to Ramirez. Unfortunately, the shot was missed, but Means got the rebound and went up with a counting two points.

“I think we played really good against them. We played really aggressive, and we seniors did everything we could to win our last home game,” said Means, “It was also emotional because it was our last home game in high school, and over all I think we did a really good job!”

As Vanessa Hidalgo from the Thunderbirds went up for a layup, Fechner viciously swatted at her hand and was called for a foul. They went up again for a shot, but was way off, and Dillahunty got the rebound.

With the ball now in the Grizzlies’ possession, Halopoff passed it inbounds to Yo Sasorith. She passed to Means but her shot was deflected off by the backboard, and Lupita Flores came to the rescue by recovering her shot and making a two-point play.

Second quarter both teams were dedicated to the game, by diving for any loose ball, playing defense and scoring. The Thunderbirds started catching up to the Grizzlies with the score of 23-19, in Grizzlies favor.

“For most of us Friday was out last home basketball game we would ever play. It was an emotional game, everyone played their hearts out!” stated Stephanie Castillo.

Castillo dribbled up court and passed to Sasorith. Sasorith passed it back to Castillo, this time Castillo passed it inside to Dillahunty, but the pass was hit outside by a Thunderbird.

The ball was thrown in by Flores, who received the pass back, and went up for a two point play.

Good defense was played by Ramirez, who stopped the ball. As Granite broke the press, Sasorith dribbled down to find out the Thunderbirds were now in a zone defense.

Fechner was out due to the total three fouls she already had in the second quarter.

Dillahunty received the ball on the left side of the blocked, dribbled to the right side, put on a move, and went up for the two point play. With very good defense, the Grizzlies were able to slow down the Thunderbirds with the outcome of them not scoring to their full potential.

As the opposing team dribbled down the court, they passed it to a wing, then tried to pass it inside to Hill, but was blocked by Flores. The ball now in the Grizzlies’ hands.

Esmeralda Ortega got Ramirez’s rebound while a Thunderbird raced to also get the ball; it was then called a jump-ball.

Cyndie Alvarado received a pass from Halopoff, but she was pushed out of bounds by a Thunderbird. A couple seconds later, Alvarado stole a pass from Hill.

As Sandra Diaz entered the game, she was passed the ball by Flores. Diaz went up confident, and shot a counting three pointer.

“We played until the end, and there was never a point at where we quit,” said Diaz.

Halopoff slowed the game down, by using the clock as her guide. As she reached half court, the Thunderbirds were back in man-to-man defense. The ball was passed to Dillahunty, but she lost it due to a push by another player. Jessica Rivera saved the ball, but it was hit out of bounds. The ending score for the second quarter was 24-13, Grizzlies taking the lead.

During half-time both teams thought about what they needed to do to win the game. The Grizzlies’ minds were set that they were taking the “W,” and nothing was going to stop them.

Third quarter, Means fought for the ball but was pushed out of bounds by Hill. The Grizzlies got the ball back and Fechner took the ball down the court and scored on a two-point play.

A time-out was called by Hernandez from the Thunderbirds.

As the Grizzlies broke the press, Halopoff pushed the ball up the court, went up for the lay up and was fouled; the ball was taken out of bounds. Halopoff passed it to Fechner who ran to the basket, but was fouled; she was shooting two on the line. She missed the first one, but made the second.

As Hernandez dribbled up the court and passed to her teammate, Halopoff stole the ball and dribbled up court. Means was on the other side calling for the ball, but Halopoff’s pass did not lead her to the basket.

Dillahunty passed the ball in to Ramirez, who passed it to Sasorith to take down the court. The ball was passed to Means, and out of the corner of her eye, saw Fechner cut to the basket to make a counting two point play. The score was 33-25, Grizzlies in the lead.

“We played smart, never gave up and fought all the way to the end and that’s what I call teamwork!” said Fechner.

Fourth quarter, and Sasorith passed the Fechner who went in for the lay-up but was fouled. She was at the line shooting one and one, at which she made both.

Flores rebounded a shot by the Thunderbirds and passed to Halopoff, who was far up the court. Halopoff scored two points for a left-handed lay-up.

Shot after shot, the Grizzlies were effectively making them. They brought their “A” game on the court against the Thunderbirds. Rebounds, shots, and passing was an essential part of this game. The Lady Grizzlies definitely showed what they had to bring to the table. The ending score of the game was 45-34, Grizzlies taking the “W!”

By the end of the game Fechner had 4 fouls; 17 points, 9 rebounds, 1 blocked shot and 1 steal. Sasorith had 1 foul; 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. Ramirez had 3 fouls, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Flores with 2 fouls; 7 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Halopoff with 3 fouls; 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. Dillahunty had 4 points, and three rebounds. Means with 2 fouls; 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Castillo had one steal. Rivera had 2 fouls and one steal. Diaz had 1 foul, and 3 points. Cyndie Alvarado had one steal. Esmeralda had 1 fouls. As a total the Lady Grizzlies had fewer than fifteen turnovers.

“I think we played hard and worked very well together,” stated Ortega.

Even though this was the last home game for the Lady Grizzlies, they will play even harder at their opponent’s gym. The next games for the Lady Grizzlies are Feb. 8 at Mission Oak, and Feb. 10 at Porterville High School.