by Joey Crandall
Nevada Appeal News Service
MINDEN " The Douglas girls' basketball team has pulled off some impressive feats this season, but what it accomplished Friday night may have topped them all.
The Tigers held Fallon without a field goal during the last 12 minutes of the game, allowed just one field goal in the second half and held the Greenwave scoreless for eight minutes (from just more than a minute left in the third to just more than 30 seconds left in the fourth) on their way to a 62-34 win in Minden.
"Defensively, the kids did a really good job," Douglas coach Werner Christen said. "We did some things to take Fallon out of what they are comfortable doing in the second half and it worked out. It's a credit to the kids and how they prepared and also to the assistant coaches for getting them ready."
At one point, the game looked like it was going to be pretty close. Douglas had built a 23-13 early in the second but Fallon put together a 7-0 run to close it to 23-20 with a pair of baskets from Sara Parsons and a series of free throws from Khaliah Brown and Kenyah Brown. It wouldn't get any closer.
With standout center Jessica Waggoner off the floor with three fouls, the Lady Tigers outscored Fallon 10-4 during the final four minutes of the half to take a 33-24 lead into the locker rooms.
Douglas opened the second half on a 5-0 run, getting stops on the Greenwave's first six possessions of the half, and never really looked back from there.
After a 20-8 edge in the third, Douglas relied mostly on its bench to hold Fallon to two points in the fourth. Those came on a pair of free throws from Kenyah Brown with 39 seconds left in the game.
Bri Burnside had a big game while spelling Waggoner, putting up 10 points. Waggoner led all scorers with 19 " 13 of which came in the first 12 minutes of the game.
"We aren't losing as much when Jess comes off the floor any more," Christen said. "Bri has put together a couple of really good games in a row for us. She's been in double figures the last two nights, so that has been good to see."
Taryn Williams put up 13 points for Douglas (14-9, 5-3 Sierra League), Ne'Jae Jackson had six, Susie White had five, Ally Freitas and Dany Heidt each had four and Megan Michitarian had one.
For Fallon, (10-9, 5-3), Parsons had 11, Kenyah Brown had nine, Khaliah Brown had six and Alex Faught and Lena Wolf each had four.
Douglas next takes on Galena in Reno Tuesday night.
"This was big, we told the girls we needed two wins this week and they really stepped up," Christen said. "It only gets harder from here and every game is important. We have to be up to the task."
- Joey Crandall can be reached at jcrandall@recordcourier.com or at 782-5121, ext. 212.