The Lady Broncs Ava Elliott No. 20 of the varsity team looks for a shot in the contest versus Desert. Submitted photo.
Bunting scores eventual game-winner with 12 seconds left
For the first time this season the HDL matchup was a struggle for the Kern Valley varsity girls’ team. They trailed late in the game, but were able to gather together and gain the comeback victory to remain unbeaten in league play.
On their home court the Lady Broncs took on Desert. This was the first time the Kern Valley squad played in the new year. Playing their usual game of defense, the Lady Broncs began the game on a 10-2 run. The defensive pressure resulting in easy buckets for Kern Valley. They would end the first quarter holding the 19-10 advantage. The Lady Scorpions battled back as they limited Kern Valley to just six points. Desert was able to close the gap as they dropped in 15 points to close out the first half. The scoreboard read 25-20 for the Lady Broncs as they went to the break.
The third quarter was more of the same as Desert continued to pour in points. They would outscore the Lady Broncs 16-12 to make the game a one-point affair as they went to the fourth. The Lady Scorpions would continue to gain the momentum as they took a 44-39 halfway through the fourth. Kern Valley would gather together and changed the game to their favor. A 6-2 run by the Lady Broncs gave them a chance. They shrunk the deficit to 46-45. A steal by Jessie Bunting and a converted lay up gave Kern Valley their first lead in a very long time. With the score sitting at 48-46 for the Lady Broncs it was Desert’s turn to respond.
The Lady Scorpions were able to knot the game at 48-48 with time winding down. Bunting was at it again as she was able to gain control of an offensive rebound. Wasting little, time she put the ball back and it dropped through the net to give Kern Valley the 50-48 lead with just 12 seconds left in the game. Desert would try the last chance heave, but it would fall short allowing the Lady Broncs to collect the victory.
Bunting led the way for Kern Valley with a double-double. She was the leading scorer with 25 points. She grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds to complete the double-double. Jayda Bushling also recorded a double-double. She added 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds. She handed out seven assists and was credited with 12 steals to complete her dopuble-double. Elli Jeans got in on the scoring as she dropped in seven points. She had nine boards and two steals. Leenah Troller and Naomi Tapia contributed two points apiece in the contest. Troller had seven rebounds, was credited with eight steals and dished out three assists. Tapia grabbed three boards, and had one assist. Emmalyn Bechtel pulled down six rebounds, one assist, and was credited with one steal. Scarlet Russell grabbed four boards and also had one steam and one assist.
Head coach Bill Gallis commenting on the comeback win said, “Wow, what an incredible game tonight. The girls weren’t at their best tonight, you could tell the layoff hurt. They played with passion and grit down the stretch. We made some big plays in the fourth quarter, and the girls’ will and desire pushed us over the finish line. The win solidifies Kern Valley’s spot atop the High Desert League standings as they continue their pursuit of a league championship.”
The second game of the HDL week was a lot less stressful as Kern Valley traveled to Frazier Mountain. The game was over before it began as the Lady Broncs crushed Frazier Mountain 75-8.
The offense was hot out of the gate as they would score 27 points as the first quarter drained away. The Kern Valley defense clamped down on the Lady Falcons as they limited them to just two points in the first quarter. With a 25-point cushion, the second quarter was a mirror image of the way the game started. When the buzzer sounded to end the first half the score was 48-4. Coming out of the break, the Lady Broncs dominance trend continued. A running clock was employed for the second half. The Kern Valley points kept adding up despite the running clock. They out scored Frazier Mountain 27-4 in the second half to create the final score of 75-8.
Three Kern Valley players scored in double figures. They would also hit six three-pointers in the game. The Lady Broncs were 7-of-15 from the free-throw line. They would also hand out 19 assists as a team. Kern Valley scoring: Bushling 15 (2-three pointers), Troller 10 (three-pointer), Tapia 10, Jeans 7, (three-pointer), McKayla Bachman 7, Ashley Plante 6 (three-pointer), Bechtel 6, Jade Montes 5 (three-pointer), Bunting 5, Russell 4. Assists: Bushling 7, Tapia 4, Bechtel 2, Jeans 2, Montes 1, Troller 1, Plante 1, Bunting 1. Rebounds: Bushling 9, Bachman 8, Jeans 5, Bechtel 5, Russell 4, Plante 3, Bunting 3, Montes 3, Tapia 2, Troller 1.
Gallis said, “The team played well tonight. It was great to see everyone get involved, definitely a good way to end the week. We need to continue to work on our conditioning after the long layoff, but hopefully, this is the start of a strong finish to the season.”
Kern Valley played Rosamond on Tuesday in another key HDL match up. They will go to Cal City on Friday to take on the Lady Ravens.
