Ben Murphy
Sports Scene
As of January 24, the Dow girls basketball team has played to a perfect 13-0 record overall and an 8-0 Saginaw Valley League record. Their steepest competition in winning the league title will come from nearby Midland High. The Lady Chargers finished behind the Lady Chemics in last year’s league standings and fell to Midland High in the district finals, as well.
“To beat them, we have to play our best basketball,” Dow head coach Robert Wellman said of Dow’s match-up with the Chemics on January 29. “We have to be able to contain Jessie Walter. The old saying, ‘You can’t stop her, you can only hope to contain her,’ will be the case here. She is so talented, we have to not allow her to get many easy shots, if that is possible. We have to play great team basketball and move the ball against them, and put as much pressure on them as we can. They are a good team, and it will be a tough game.”
The Lady Chargers, who last year went 16-6 overall and finished second behind Midland High in league play at 8-1, are already in the midst of a good season, whether they beat the Chemics or not.
“So far, we have had a nice start; we have won games in overtime, by close margins, and some by a little larger margins, Wellman said. “Though every game has been a battle and the girls have learned from each game, we have not been as consistent as I would like, but the girls continue to find ways to win ball games. They have worked extremely hard this season, and I hope to continue our winning ways.”
Aiding Dow’s ability to win games is the fact that they don’t have a single player averaging over 10 points a game. In fact, only one player averages over eight points a game.
“We have not had anyone stand out overall,” Wellman said. We have had different girls step up to lead the team this season. We have had all 11 players score in four games and nine or more players score in 10 games.”
Kristine Mussell leads the team with 8.3 points a game. She has hit 27 three-point shots. Josie Queary and Maya Piper are both averaging 6.5 points a game, with Queary also averaging 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
“We are hoping to continue to improve and begin to peak for the districts and hopefully make a nice run in the tournament,” Wellman said. “Though we have a lot of tough games ahead of us, and we have to play our best basketball each and every night.”