In a game fitting of its setting, the El Dorado Springs Lady Bulldogs put a damper on Senior Night at Central High School’s historic James Ball Gymnasium – a.k.a. “The Pit” – and came away with a 25-22 victory on Thursday night.
Yes, you read that correctly – 25-22.
And to call this game a defensive battle would be stating the obvious.
“I think we kind of played in the era of they gym,” El Dorado Springs coach Beau Swopes said of the 85-year-old Pit. “This is the first time our girls have ever played here, so I don’t know if it’s the backdrop or what, but we struggled shooting-wise. Central came out and they did a good job with their defense, and didn’t really allow us to get anything in close.”
El Dorado Springs led 6-4 at the end of the first quarter and 11-5 at halftime, as both teams struggled to get the ball in the hole.
Swopes compared the offensive woes to a carnival game.
“I felt like we were playing on carnival rims there for a while, where if someone made one, we were going to get some kind of doll (for a prize).”
El Dorado Springs averages about 50 points per game.
“I felt like we got good shots. We just struggled with the finish,” Swopes said. “So, to come out with a victory with 25 points… I told the girls I’ve gotta be pretty happy with our defense.”
Central coach Caitlin Russell couldn’t recall being part of such a low-scoring game.
“Not really… but we knew that we weren’t going to put up the points that we usually do,” Russell said. “But we held them to 25, so kudos to our defense.
“A few more things fell right for them, and we couldn’t put the ball in the bucket in the first half. We were missing wide-open layups and buckets that we normally make, so it was tough.”
It also didn’t help that the Central Lady Bulldogs were without senior standout Jaslyn Williams, and her 18 points per game. Williams hit her head when she fell on the ice in mid-January, when Springfield schools were closed because of inclement weather.
Russell said Williams never really complained, but that a fall during the Waynesville game on Feb. 1, triggered the headaches and dizziness again.
A trip to the trainer revealed a concussion. Russell is hopeful to have Williams back by Feb. 20.
In Williams’ absence, freshman Dasia Pence stepped up for Central, scoring a team-high 12 points.
“We have had some talks about her stepping up and taking over some of that scoring ability because of Jaslyn being out,” Russell said. “She’s kind of taken on that role with flying colors.
“She’s a freshman, so it shows that she is a freshman. But there are spurts in there where she’s playing above what she can, so I’m proud of her.”
Williams, who has 327 points so far this season, and 1,134 for her career at Central, was honored prior to the game. She will compete in track and field at Coffeyville Community College next year.
Although Swopes was happy to get out of The Pit with a win, he also would have liked to have had the chance for his team to compete against a Williams-led Central squad.
“I would have liked to have seen her play,” Swopes said. “I would have liked to see what the difference in the game would be.
“It’s gotta be tough. I feel for her. On Senior Night, you want to go out and play well, and with the injury, she can’t go. Our girls were ready to come and play against her. They felt bad for her, as well, because you want everybody to be able to go and compete and you want to see who you really are right about this time, with districts coming on. I hope she comes back healthy and has a great rest of the season, and they’re able to do some great things.”
EL DORADO SPRINGS – 6-5-4-10—25
CENTRAL – 4-1-8-9—22
EL DORADO SPRINGS (14-10) – Kinli Simmons 13, Anyssa Salazar 7, Kameron Schaaf 3, Paige Esry 2.
CENTRAL (6-16) – Dasia Pence 12, Elaina Roeder 8, Sakirah Jones 2.
Central B 36, El Dorado Springs B 32
