Western girls crash glass, beat Clark to inch closer to playoffs

Western’s girls basketball team likely wasn’t anyone’s pick to secure a berth in the Sunset Region playoffs this season.

The Warriors haven’t reached the postseason since 2004 and were welcoming in a new coach.

What most failed to realize, though, was the work ethic Western brought back — and the Warriors put that on full display again Wednesday.

On a night when it couldn’t hit a shot in the paint to save its life, Western crashed the glass to the tune of 43 offensive rebounds and held off host Clark 54-47 to improve to 7-3 and keep sole possession of third place in the Southwest League, inching closer to a spot in the Sunset tourney.

“We’re opening up a lot of people’s eyes,” said first-year coach Annette Megown, whose team has only nine players, six of whom see the bulk of the minutes.. “I think a lot of people are shocked, but It’s just come from the dedication, the hard work, the teamism with the nine players we have.”

Starters Mylasia Smith and Jocelyn Jordan never left the court for Western (7-14, 7-3), and teammate Aleya Ford-Wheaton sat for a total of 19 seconds — all in the game’s final minute — yet the Warriors still outworked Clark (5-10, 2-8).

Western had five players with at least 10 rebounds, outrebounding the Chargers, 75-57.

On one fourth-quarter possession, Western grabbed five offensive rebounds before Smith finally converted on the sixth shot.

It’s been a common theme for Western, which has won its games by an average margin of 10.1 points.

“With our low numbers, they have to play the whole game and they have to give 110 percent every second,” Megown said. “We need to get everything we can get to win the game.”

Smith finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds. Brittany Moreland, who played the final 22 minutes of the game with three fouls, added 12 points and 13 rebounds. Ford-Wheaton grabbed 14 rebounds. Tenaya Williams had 11 boards, and Jordan added nine points and 10 rebounds.

“When they all play like they can really play, and there aren’t one or two having an off game, we can be a really good team,” Megown said.

Western shot poorly, making only 19 of 87 field-goal attempts, but the 43 offensive boards covered up some of the blemishes.

Western holds a 1½-game lead over Durango for third and has a two-game cushion over fifth-place Spring Valley, both of which the Warriors beat in the first round. Five of Western’s final six games are against teams below it in the standings.

“They finally understand that we’re in a position that we can make the playoffs and possibly get in a position where we can make a run,” Megown said. “I’m really proud of them.”

Bobbi Floyd had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Clark. Ashley Robinson grabbed 10 rebounds for the Chargers.