By Nolan Epstein/For OzarksSportsZone.com
In what was figured to be one of the tougher tests of the season for Class 3 top-ranked Strafford (24-0), the Lady Indians once again made their opponent look overmatched on Monday night as head coach Steve Frank’s team made quick work of No. 8 (Class 2) Spokane (18-5 overall) with an 81-42 win at home.
The blowout victory marked the 14th time Strafford has outscored a team by more than 30 points this season and the tenth time it has reached the 80-point mark on the scoreboard.
Simply put, this is one dangerous basketball squad.
“I think balance is a big key,” Frank said of his team’s secret to success. “All of our kids just play really well together and they’re unselfish. I think that’s really the big key, just the unselfishness and just to go out and get the job done.”
Strafford sophomore Hayley Frank converted a traditional 3-point play 23 seconds into the game and the Lady Indians were off and running from there – eventually constructing a 21-3 first-quarter run to give the home team an 18-point advantage after the first eight minutes.
That lead would swell to 51-18 by halftime before the Lady Indians reached the high-water mark of a 44-point edge midway through the fourth.
Frank, along with senior guard Abby Oliver, could not be stopped all night as the duo combined to score 54 points in the contest.
“When you have one really solid player you’re a lot easier to guard, but when you’ve got two, it really makes it hard on the other team,” Coach Frank said of Hayley Frank and Oliver. “When you can bring Hayley out on the perimeter, that really makes it even tougher.”
Despite attacking from the outside at times, Frank did most of her damage in the low post on the way to a 24-point, 18-rebound performance. The 6-foot-1 youngster also chipped in a game-high 12 assists to finish with a triple-double.
“It’s so much fun,” said Hayley Frank when asked about being able to play at such a high level. “Being able to pass the ball and your teammate is shooting it, you’re confident every time when it leaves their hands.”
The 3-point arc was commanded by Oliver, who hit eight shots from long distance in a 30-point effort.
“Once I start getting hot, the girls just start looking for me,” Oliver said. “If I’m not there, they’re good at making their own plays.”
When they didn’t have the ball, the Lady Indians played soundly on the defensive end as well. Strafford managed to create ten turnovers by Spokane in the first quarter and kept the Lady Owls attempting contested shots time and time again.
In fact, according to Coach Frank, defense is what makes this seemingly unstoppable unit tick.
“The overlooked thing and what people don’t see is how well these kids get out and guard,” he added. “That’s what they pride themselves on. When you do that, it gives you a good opportunity [on offense].”
Junior Casey Wallace led Spokane with 9 points on the night.
Strafford heads to Pleasant Hope to face the Lady Pirates next Monday, while Spokane hits the road to Forsyth on Thursday.
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Spokane – 8 10 14 10 – 42
Strafford – 26 25 24 6 – 81
Spokane – Casey Wallace 9, Kaylee Armitage 8, Meghan Robertson 6, Zabryna Hodges 6, Taylor Riott 5, Shasta Turnbough 4, Rachelle McMurray 4
Strafford – Abby Oliver 30, Hayley Frank 24, Kayley Frank 8, Zoey Mullings 7, Logan Jones 6, Kyndall Compton 5, Mica Chadwell 1
