DARRINGTON It took Hailey Wales approximately 20 seconds to make an impact in her first game playing varsity basketball. The highly touted freshman scored the Darrington Loggers first bucket in the Nov. 28 rout of the Cedar Park Christian Eagles. The Loggers got solid contributions from both Hailey and her sister Randi Wales and overcame a foul plagued opening night from their star Caitlin Pendergrass to win easily 48-31.
The Loggers benefited from a big first quarter that saw them take a commanding lead. Pendergrass, pre-foul trouble, did an excellent job on the boards on defense, limiting Cedar Park to only one shot attempt and blocking several shots. Randi Wales chipped in six points in the quarter including a duck-under move near the basket. She gave a head fake to an Eagle defender and snuck beneath her to the rim for two points.
Kimi Woodward handed out two early assists, both to Randi Wales and Daneen Green hit a three pointer as the Loggers built a 14-8 lead. One minute later Hailey Wales took a backdoor pass from her sister and scored an impressive running left hander. Hailey returned the favor moments later, dropping down an assist to Randi to make the score 19-10 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter Pendergrass picked up her third foul midway through and went to the bench. Woodward and Jordan Corley stepped in to pick up the slack. Woodward picked the pocket of Cedar Parks lead guard and swooped in for an uncontested lay up. Corley then managed a steal in similar fashion, getting fouled on her way to the hoop. After sinking two free throws, Corley again finished on the break for Darrington on a nice pass from Hailey Wales before the defense could get set. Darrington gave itself a commanding 25-14 halftime lead.
The third quarter got started with three straight buckets from Randi Wales. The 510 freshman scored twice on put-backs and once on an assist from Woodward near the basket. Cedar Park failed to narrow the gap as Darrington used their inside game to their advantage. At the end of three quarters, the Loggers led 34-20.
In the fourth quarter Darrington continued to pull away. Hailey Wales scored on a fast break play after attempting a pass across the lane. The ball bounced off the arms of a defender directly back to Wales who converted a lay in to make the lead 18 points. Jordan Corleys three pointer with a little over a minute remaining sealed the game and the Loggers won handily 48-31.
I think we feel like we had it under control, said Coach Ben Bryson. Cedar Park didnt look like they could shoot well so we packed it in defensively on them.
It was a little slow in the beginning, said forward Jordan Corley, I just knew that somebody had to make something happen, I figured I should try to do it. The freshman did a great job too.
Randi Wales finished as the leading scorer with 18 points, Corley contributed 11, and Hailey Wales added nine.
At first I was nervous but as we started playing I didnt pay attention to the stands, said Randi Wales. I was nervous during warmups, but once they threw the ball up I just went after it. We have some stuff to work on but for a first game it was a good performance.
Darringtons next game is against Lakewood on Dec. 5.