Rampart girls’ basketball team advances, sets up another game with Doherty
Bailey Torres knew as she was warming up that it was going to be a big night for her and her Rampart team.
Torres scored a game-high 20 points, including hitting six 3-pointers, in a 52-38 first-round win over Heritage in the first round of the 5A girls’ basketball playoffs.
“I felt it – as a shooter, you can feel when you’re going to be on,” the sophomore guard said Tuesday. “Then you get into the game and the adrenaline is going, and I was feeling it.”
The 26th-seeded Rams (11-13) are more talented than their record indicates. Going 7-5 in the 5A Metro conference has toughened this team up, and even though Rampart only has one senior, it’s a gritty team that played like an experienced bunch.
“I was very happy with our ability to execute a game plan with energy,” Rampart coach Ashley Miller said. “Bailey was huge tonight – she’s our best shooter and we want to keep instilling confidence in her. She’s capable of shooting like that every night, and her hitting some 3s in the next game would help a lot, too.”
That next game will be at rival Doherty, the No. 7 seed, Friday night.
The Spartans beat the Rams by 23 points both times they played this season, but the score was 37-31 heading into the fourth quarter of their second meeting.
“We have to learn from our mistakes from the first two games against Doherty,” said Rampart junior Shannon Danda, who scored 10 points against Heritage. “We were right there with them, and if we play four solid quarters, I think people will be surprised. When Bailey shoots like that, we’re a tough team to stop.”
Torres isn’t worried about Rampart’s inexperience.
“We’re building experience, but we’ve all played club ball outside of school and have plenty of confidence in each other and ourselves,” Torres said. “At this point, it’s not about our age anymore, it’s about playing hard and trying to get a win.”
The Rams torched the Heritage zone defense, penetrating into the lane and kicking it out for open jumpers.
“We played a complete game, and that’s what you want to see from a team in the playoffs,” Miller said. “The issue in the last game against Doherty was that we only executed our game plan for three quarters. We’ll be even more prepared for this game, and we’re going to know Doherty inside and out after watching film the next few days.”
The 5A Metro foes will meet at Doherty at 7 p.m. Friday with a trip to the third round on the line.
“We scared them the last time we played them,” Torres said, “and now we have to come out and show them that we’re in it to win, and we want to go further.”
Rampart’s Bailee Hart defends a Heritage player. Rampart defeated Heritage 52-38 at Rampart High School on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Rampart’s Madi Wriedt (center) controls the ball while being defended by Heritage’s Wylie Coyne (left) and Collette Schmuhl (right). Rampart defeated Heritage 52-38 at Rampart High School on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Rampart’s Bailey Torres shoots the ball to score three points during the second half of a game. Rampart defeated Heritage 52-38 at Rampart High School on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Rampart’s Bailee Hart (left) takes control of the ball as Heritage’s Caroline Burrow and Haily Cechini (center to right) defend during the first quarter of a game. Rampart defeated Heritage 52-38 at Rampart High School on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Rampart’s Madi Wriedt (center) controls the ball while being defended by Heritage’s Wylie Coyne (left) and Collette Schmuhl (right). Rampart defeated Heritage 52-38 at Rampart High School on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Rampart’s Bailey Torres shoots the ball to score three points during the second half of a game. Rampart defeated Heritage 52-38 at Rampart High School on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Rampart’s Bailee Hart (left) takes control of the ball as Heritage’s Caroline Burrow and Haily Cechini (center to right) defend during the first quarter of a game. Rampart defeated Heritage 52-38 at Rampart High School on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Rampart’s Bailee Hart defends a Heritage player. Rampart defeated Heritage 52-38 at Rampart High School on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)