On November 22, the girls basketball team had their first scrimmage of the season against Poolesville.  Linganore won four of five 8-minute “quarters.”

The starters were senior guard Caroline Ward, senior forward Sophia Heitzig, junior forward Jessica Mitchell, sophomore guard Fiona Rowan, and senior guard Ashleigh Bannano.

In the first quarter, Mitchell won the tip off. Poolesville put lots of pressure on the Lancers in the beginning of the game, pressing them from the start.

The Lancers worked very hard on pushing the ball up the court on fast breaks, looking for any easy shots, instead of having to set up a play.

These girls also had great communication during this game on defense. Talking the whole time yelling”ball,” “deny,” and “help” when they were guarding their players, and when a new player has entered the game they communicate on who has the new player.

When these girls got quiet, Coach Rachel Easterday was sure to let them know that they were quiet and to speak up to one another on defense because communication is a hug part of defense.

Caroline Ward is a huge part of the team on offense. She scored 11 of their 16 points in the first quarter.

The second string of players that came in for the starters were, Olivia Weinel for Mitchell, Kara Probeyahn for Rowan, Grace Brooks for Heitzig, Sarah Twigg for Bannano, and Cailyn Barthlow for Ward.

The officials reset the score every quarter. The Lancers won four of the five quarters, tying one 5-5.

At the end of the third quarter it was 17-4, with a three-point buzzer beater from Twigg. The fourth game was tied 5-5.

They played a fifth quarter. Brooks won the tip for the Lancers. The starting five in the fifth were Brooks, Brianna Dellavalle, Twigg, Barthlow, and Maggie Keaton.

Great first game together as a team. And a great way for them to start their Thanksgiving break.

The first official game is December 6 against Middletown at Middletown.