Photo Credit: Anu Khatod

Senior power Alex Flowers fends off a Burlingame defender.

Girls’ basketball took down Burlingame last night, defending the home court in an uplifting league triumph.

The game remained relatively close throughout most of the game. After the first period, the Bears and the Panthers were neck-and-neck at 7-7, and in the next two quarters, M-A only outscored its visitors incrementally, putting in 11 to Burlingame’s nine in the second quarter and three to Burlingame’s two in the third.

But “we truly believed we could beat them,” said junior Katherine Hayse. “That gave us the spark to pull away in the fourth quarter.” In that last period, sophomores Sierra Sheeper and Emma Heath stepped up to add six points each, securing M-A’s lead. The Bears’ scoring surge totaled 16 points, propelling them to a 37-23 win.

“We were determined,” explains junior guard Radhika Khatod. “Even though it came close at times, we pulled through in the end.”

5’10″ senior captain Tennyson Jellins led in scoring with 12 points, including a brilliant three-pointer, while Sheeper, Heath, and senior Alex Flowers each added six. Jellins’ nine blocks, along with Heath’s five steals and four assists, also helped secure the game for the Bears. Sheeper set herself apart with 10 offensive rebounds in a standout game for the first-year varsity player.

At 8-9 overall and 2-1 in league, the Lady Bears are set on improving their record. Their opportunity comes this Friday in a league game against Mills. If they can draw from yesterday’s momentum, they will be able to pull off another proud victory.