Lady Dawgs lose close contest to Western Reserve

PHOTOS BY AMBER DOTY

By ARIEL STAHLER
Gazette & News sports writer

It was a close game, but Dalton High School’s varsity girls basketball team could not grab the lead at the end of their 36-33 loss to Western Reserve on Dec. 12. This put the Lady Dawgs’ overall record at 1-4 and they are 1-1 in WCAL play.

Addesa Miller nailed three triples and finished with a near double-double of 10 points and nine rebounds. Tess Denning was a force in the paint. She grabbed 11 rebounds and scored two points. Mia Weaver scored nine points and pulled two boards. Lauren Clos finished with six points, five rebounds and one assist. Ella Lunsford ended with four points, three rebounds and one assist. Sarah Witmer added two points and three rebounds.

Dalton’s head coach Katie Miller described the challenges her team faced in the game and what she wants them to improve on as the season progresses.

“We need to continue to get better on both ends of the floor, individually and as a team,” she said. “Western Reserve has a solid post player and some nice guard play. They got to the line 23 times. At the end of the game, they attacked, got to the line and made their free throws. Defensively, we are giving them too many easy, uncontested opportunities by sending them to the free throw line. We had our opportunity at the end of the game and we were unable to hold the lead. We must learn, get better at practice and get ready for a busy week ahead that starts with Waynedale.”

Dalton’s Dec. 10 game against Smithville was postponed. The game has been rescheduled for Dec. 21.

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