Girls basketball: Syracuse shuts down Davis for three quarters in 38-25 win
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- Syracuse guard Maylee Anderson (2) handles the basketball as Davis High’s Emma Loveland defends during a game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Davis High’s Kate Willard, right, attempts a jump shot over Syracuse High’s Rachel McBride (12) during a game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Olivia Sorenson (35) and Davis High’s Sydney Plummer (11) battle for possession of the ball during a game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Davis High’s T’Maea Eteuati (1) corrals the basketball as Syracuse High’s Kyleigh Nielson (23) closes in during a game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Rachel McBride (12) tries to get up a shot as Davis High’s Emy Richards contests during a game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Kate Willard 4,
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- Syracuse High’s Aubri Stoker drives the basketball in a game against Davis on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Davis High’s Lydia Tarbet handles the basketball in a game against Syracuse on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Aubri Stoker drives the basketball in a game against Davis on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Davis High’s Kate Willard (4) watches her shot while Syracuse’s Olivia Sorenson contests during a game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Davis High’s Emma Loveland, left, defends Syracuse High’s Maylee Anderson (2) during a game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Rachel McBride (12) of Syracuse and Kate Willard (4) of Davis contest the jump ball to start a game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Syracuse.
SYRACUSE — The way Syracuse girls basketball was playing defense, it was amazing that Davis was still in the game early in the third quarter.
Trailing by four points, Davis called a quick timeout to strategize, but it was the Titans who came out on fire with a 5-0 burst and, suddenly, they led the Darts 25-16 midway through the period.
Syracuse rolled to an 11-point edge heading into the fourth quarter and never looked back, downing the Darts 38-25 in a Region 1 battle Friday night.
Davis didn’t get a basket in the second stanza until the 21-second mark and the Titans upped the ante in the third quarter, allowing only one field goal over the entire eight-minute span.
“That was kind of a turning point. The first quarter was a rough start. We had some turnovers and were in a man-to-man defense where I didn’t necessarily love how we were rotating and moving in it,” Syracuse coach Braden Hamblin said. “We switched to our two-three zone for the rest of the game and that was the difference. We were very aggressive in the passing lanes and flustered them a little bit.”
The Darts led 12-11 after the first quarter behind four points each from T’Maea Eteuati and Kate Willard.
Syracuse started to take control with a 7-0 run through the first 7:39 of clock time in the second. Junior center Rachel McBride had a basket and two free throws during the streak for Syracuse.
The Darts scored the last two buckets of the quarter, closing the gap to 18-16 at the break.
But Davis’ only basket of the third quarter came on a right-angle jumper by sophomore guard Lydia Tarbet with 3:17 remaining.
“We knew we had to give 100% effort and shut them down. … We needed to get our baskets on the other end and take the game over,” Syracuse junior guard Maylee Anderson said. “We kept our energy and really had to bring it.”
An 11-2 third quarter gave the Titans a 29-18 advantage and then, for the third straight quarter, they held the Darts to single digits in the final frame.
“To be honest, I’ve seen this defense (before); we’ve played great defense, for the most part, all year,” Hamblin said. “We’ve got to figure out how to start better; we gave up 12 points in the first quarter and only 13 the rest of the game. Once we get settled in, I really think (defense) is our calling card.
“Tonight, against this quality of a team, the girls took a step further and I was proud of them. I told them if we play defense like that, we’ll have a chance in every single game we play.”
Someone had to post points on the offensive side of the ball, and that someone turned out to be Anderson, who totaled half of Syracuse’s 38 with 19.
Anderson made seven field goals, including a trio of 3-pointers, and was 2 of 2 from the free-throw line. Her final trey was one of those where ‘it’s like I can’t believe I’m this open’ shoulder shakes that she buried from the top of the key.
“I knew I had to step up and score some because my team wasn’t making shots,” Anderson said. “(Olivia Sorenson) set a good screen and I put it up and luckily, it went in.”
McBride scored six points for the Titans, splashing 4 of 4 from the free throw line.
Something you don’t see very often: Davis did not shoot a single free throw on the night.
“That was a point of emphasis beforehand, especially with No. 1 (Eteuati),” Hamblin said. “We knew we had the size advantage; stay straight up and don’t bail them out and put them on the free-throw line.”
Syracuse (13-2, 3-0 Region 1) sports a big front line, with three starters at 5-foot-11 or taller.
“Our bigs definitely take away the middle shots and the driving,” Anderson said. “I think we did really good. We needed to play good defense on T’Maea and I think we executed well.”
The Titans won the rebound battle 26 to 18 and held the Darts to 26% shooting while managing 39% on their own shots.
Davis (9-5, 1-2) had fewer turnovers than Syracuse with 16 compared to 19, but many of those Titan turnovers came in the first half before they got their footing.
Eteuati paced the Darts with 11 points while Willard and junior guard Emma Loveland had four each.
