On Thursday night in a controlled performance, the Lady Crimsons’ JV basketball team took the court with confidence, sealing an impressive victory against Male High School. From the tipoff to the final buzzer, Manual showcased their strength in defense, smart offensive plays, and solid teamwork by winning 59-24 against the Bulldogs.
First Half:
The game began with Manual winning the tipoff. Early attempts by Cameron Brooks (#14, 9) to score were blocked by Male, allowing for the Bulldogs to quickly regain possession. Manual capitalized on the turnover, scoring twice and adding a free throw, putting them up 4-0 within minutes.
Both teams exchanged shots, but Manual maintained control with remarkable contributions from Ella Davis (#42, 9) and Olivia Blackmer (#33, 10), who helped extend the lead to 6-2 after a Male timeout.
Manual’s defense, anchored by Davis, was a key factor throughout the first quarter, which ended 17-4 in Manual’s favor.
Male struggled to find consistent offense, while Lady Crimson Ahmari Brice (#4,9) drained a three-pointer to start the second quarter, pushing the score to 20-5. Manual’s relentless interceptions and blocks, especially by Amaria Pegues (#23, 9), prevented Male from gaining momentum. Despite a few successful layups by the Bulldogs, Manual extended their lead to 27-12 by halftime.
Second Half:
The second half saw Manual continuing their relentless pressure both on offense and defense. Manual opened with a successful free throw, extending their lead to 28-12. Male struggled to maintain their composure under Manual’s aggressive defense, committing multiple fouls.
After another foul committed by the Bulldogs, Manual had two more free throws attempts, but both were unsuccessful. However, Davis showed great awareness, grabbing the rebound and scoring a layup, pushing the score to 30-12.
Manual’s offense showed no signs of slowing down. Brooks drove to the basket for a clean layup, followed shortly after by another layup from Blackmer, widening the gap to 34-12.
Manual then drained a three-pointer, further demoralizing Male, who only managed a layup in response. By mid-quarter, Manual had extended their lead to 39-14, largely due to fast plays and their consistent defensive pressure.
With Male struggling to find an answer, Manual’s defense kept intercepting and blocking shots. Davis once again made a key block, denying Male an easy basket and allowing Manual to transition smoothly into offense. A perfectly executed play saw the ball move from Pegues to Jermiya Bracken (#11, 9), then to Brice, and back to Pegues, who set up Bailey Fechter (#35, 10) for an easy layup, putting the score at 42-14. Manual continued their dominance as they added another layup to close the quarter 46-14.
In the final quarter, Manual picked up the intensity even more, improving their shooting accuracy, particularly with their layups and three-pointers Brice and Bracken stepped up, each hitting key shots to keep the lead secure.
Despite Male making a few successful free throws and layups, they couldn’t close the gap. Manual remained efficient, scoring another layup and a free throw to make it 49-16. Male briefly found some rhythm, adding a three-pointer and a free throw, but Manual’s defense tightened, limiting Male’s offensive chances.
Pegues continued to shine, scoring another layup to make it 51-20, while the team’s consistent free-throw shooting in the closing minutes added to the lead.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, Manual had secured a commanding 59-24 victory.
