Drayds Make Successful Debut, Improve to 2-0 All-Time In Competition
HALOSEN GARDEN ARENA, Halosen - After playing only once in inter-regional competition, the Myrtannia Dryads were looking to prove themselves on their first day of action. Going in to AORBC II, they held a 1-0 record all time in inter-regional compeititon, the one win coming against ASMV in the women's title game. As defending champions, they had and still have a big target on their backs as ASMV returns looking to avenge the loss, and two new teams throw their hats into the fray.
On Sunday, the Dryads faced the first of these teams - the Geisenfried Lady Lancers, counterpart to the successful men's team that suffered its first loss on Sunday. Geisenfried sported a big front line that, like that of D&S, caused the Dryads to make the personell change that brought Ping Seek to the Myrtannia lineup. At every position except PF and C, the Lancers sported a size advantage over the defending champion Dryads. That made the game close, as did the Lancers' talent despite this being their first AORBC.
The first quarter was a see-saw battle, with both teams knocking down shots like it was going out of style. Zenobia Abdur-Shareef led the Drayd attack with 15 in the first, all three-pointers. But Geisenfried hung in there, and by the end of one, it was all knotted up at 26. In the second, the taller Lancers flexed some muscle by going on a 12-3 run to start things off, and Abdur-Shareef couldn't get any open shots.
At the half, it looked like there might be an upset in the works, with Geisenfried up by a score of 46-34. Then, the Dryads kicked into gear, reversing their usual strategy of outside shooting to discourage foes. Now, they kicked the ball inside to Sara Golden and the tallest woman on the court, the 6'7" Ping Seek. Bolstered by a serious rebounding effort by both women, the Dryads got back into the game, and started running against the taller Lady Lancers. Tully Stiles scored three consecutive layups during this stretch, and Becky Franken stepped in to add size to the Dryads' defensive efforts.
The Lady Lancers kept things close, though, and late in the fourth, it was tied at 70 apiece. Once again, the Dryads went to work, first when Stiles drove the lane against the big girls of the Geisenfried lineup, only to pass it behind her back to an open Seek, who proceeded to dunk the ball with both hands, sending the Myrtannian fans to their feet. It was the first dunk in the history of the AORBC Women's division competition. On the next play, Rona Lee, off the bench for defensive purposes, got a steal, and got it to Ping again - who was knocked down just as she let off her shot, got the foul, and hit the basket anyway. A freethrow later, it was Myrtannia up 75-70.
Geisenfried got a two pointer and then the free throw on their next possession, to make it 73-75, but that was as close as they would get. Myrtannia took a timeout, and then inbounded it to reserve guard Mary Finley, who nailed a three from the corner to put the Dryads up by five with ten seconds to go. On the last possession of the game, an attempted shot by the Lancers was rejected by Seek, and the ball recovered by Finley, who simply dribbled out to clock to a Dryads win.
"You've gotta hand it to the Lancers, they played really well out there. Their size will give a lot of people problems in games to come," Rona Lee said, "We were just five points better this time. Well, that and we've got the power of Ping."
Next up for the Dryads is the team they beat for the title in AORBC I - the ASMV Lady Dragons, coming off a surprising 80-82 loss to Dorian and Sonya. Expect a close game between the two roundball rivals as the Dragons try to reassert themselves on the hardwood. It'll be their running game against Myrtannian versatility - the Dryads can run, but prefer to control the tempo and take more jumpers, a mix of outside and inside shots. Ping Seek gives the Dryads an edge inside they didn't have last time around, but she can't do it herself.
Key Players: Ping Seek, C (18 points, 14 rebounds, 9 blocks v. GEIS)
Sara Golden, PF (16 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists v. GEIS)
Zenobia Abdur-Shareef, SG (17 points v. GEIS)
Tully Stiles, PG (8 points, 16 assists v. GEIS)
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