Perhaps the best way to gauge the season of Bridgeport High School’s girls basketball team isn’t from the reaction of Wednesday’s 55-37 road win at Elkins, but rather the reaction from first-year Coach Paul Ayers relating to his team’s 53-48 road setback Saturday at George Washington in Kanawha County.

 

“The GW game was a great challenge against a very good Class AAA team on the road,” said Ayers. “I thought we played extremely hard last Saturday afternoon.  We led at the half 25-21 but they simply played just a little better than us in the second half.  So I can't fault my team's play or effort.”

 

Ayers was particularly pleased considering the team had played the night before against East Fairmont. The Tribe won that home game 37-15 before making the two-hour trip south the next day.

 

“With a quick turnaround … I wondered whether we would be able to make the two hour road trip with anything left in the tank.  Even though we lost, I thought it was a great learning experience that will be pay dividends for the stretch run,” Ayers said.

 

The trip to George Washington was followed by another trip of 60-minutes plus Wednesday into Randolph County. Bridgeport was able to get the win thanks to a balanced scoring attack that saw a trio of players in double figures. Quinn Stalnaker led the way with 13 points, Gianina Renzelli added 11 and Hope Chalfant finished with 10. The balanced attack also saw Hannah Fetty finish with eight points.

 

Bridgeport trailed 11-7 after the first period, but regrouped big time in the second period. When halftime rolled around, the Indians were in control 26-18.

 

“The girls never panicked and after trailing …  we picked up our defensive intensity and turned the tables on Elkins,” said Ayers. “Our defense was the key to the surge in the first half.”

 

So why the late season road trip to George Washington? Ayers pointed to something that came of it as a reason.

 

“I think at this point in the season we are coming together as a group and developing into the team I truly believed we could become.  The road trips have helped the girls bond and develop quality relationships which have benefitted us on the floor,” said Ayers.

 

Ayers had positive things to say about several members of his squad that consists of just one senior in Fetty. He pointed to Renzelli’s floor leadership, Stalnaker battling ankle injuries and illness to be a force inside and Fetty picking things up offensively along with always getting the top defensive assignment as some of the keys to the team’s strong showing.

 

“There is no substitute for what Hannah has meant to this team as a leader. Simply put Hannah is one of the most loyal, hard-working and team oriented student-athletes I've ever coached,” said Ayers. “She is the definition of what it means to be a Bridgeport Lady Indian.”

 

Ayers also has liked what he’s witnessed from Stephanie Alvaro. Alvaro finished with 15 points at George Washington. Hope Chalfant, who added 14 in that outing, is gaining confidence on both ends of the floor and continues to be strong beyond the 3-point line, Ayers said.

 

Bridgeport is back in action this evening. The Class AA No. 10 Tribe hosts Class AAA No. 10 Buckhannon-Upshur at 6 p.m.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Coach Paul Ayers at a timeout, while middle photo shows Stephanie Alvaro playing defense. Hannah Fetty is shown in the bottom photo going strong to the basket. Photos by Tyler Maxwell of www.benqueenphotography.com.