Staff photo by Jenna Walker/Chattanooga Times Free Press - Jan 25, 2011 -- Briana Wesley, left, and Ryan Alosi, right, wrestle for possession of the ball at the Silverdale Baptist vs. Arts & Sciences girls' basketball game at the Arts & Sciences High School basketball gym in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Arts & Sciences girls' basketball team won the game with a final score of 54-27.Silverdale Baptist Academy's girls entered their high school basketball game Tuesday with a chance to take over sole possession of first place in the District 5-A standings.
The Lady Seahawks knew that meant unseating Arts & Sciences, which has grown accustomed lately to being in the top spot. And they were going to have to do it on the Lady Patriots' floor.
"Not in our house," was the message sent in the form of a 54-27 whipping.
Upstart Silverdale came in with a 9-3 overall record and was 3-0 in the district.
"We missed shots we normally hit," Silverdale coach David Massengill said. "We fumbled the ball a little bit on our fastbreaks. We just didn't do anything good tonight. As a coach you know that's going to happen sooner or later. We just didn't want it to happen today."
CSAS is 6-0 in the district but only 7-7 overall. Some of the losses were to state-ranked GPS and McMinn Central, as well as other longtime formidable programs such as Brainerd and Cleveland.
"Our girls have made 100 percent improvement from the beginning of the year," CSAS coach Lee Ziegler said. "That's because they started buying into what we were trying to do. Part of that is pushing the ball up the floor. We'd like to push it a little more."
That style suited the Lady Patriots well Tuesday. The Lady Seahawks came at them with some full-court pressure but never were able to force a turnover in the backcourt throughout the first half and ended up well short of their average of 30 opponents' turnovers per game.
It took 2:15 into the game for CSAS to score, but Briana Wesley's shot from the left wing made it 3-2 and the Lady Patriots led the rest of the way. Wesley made three 3-point shots in the first half and finished with 16 points. Robyn Anthony made one in each half and led with 19 points.
"Robyn Anthony is a tough girl to guard," Massengill said. "She's got a great crossover move. We've got speed, maybe as much as they have, but we've gotten where we are playing zone on everybody. We've not had a girl hit early 3s on us like that."
Ahead by 11, CSAS's Courtney McPherson blocked the first shot of the third quarter and was rewarded with a layup at the end of the fastbreak she started by hustling to the other end. That was part of her nine points and began a 14-1 run that pushed the lead to 41-17.
"We're strong in the post," Ziegler said. "Courtney McPherson is strong in the post. A lot of teams like to double-team her. We've had to make her aware she has shooters around her."
Mariah Massengill was the only Lady Seahawk to score more than six points, and her 13 were less than half of her average per game.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653.