LAKEVILLE - The Class 1A No. 4 Oregon-Davis girls basketball team doesn't look ready to have a down year anytime soon.
After going 93-12 with his daughter Gabrielle Minix, who's now playing at Marquette University, running the show, Lady Bobcats coach Terry Minix has another stellar group of freshmen.That youth was on display Thursday in a 59-38 defeat of the Triton Lady Trojans in the second round of the 46th annual TCU Bi-County Tournament at LaVille High School. With the win, O-D will square off against Culver in Saturday's 6:30 p.m. championship game. Culver punched its ticket to the title game with a 59-34 win in the night's previous contest.
On the night, Minix's "big three" of Ashley Campbell, Jessica Avarone and Alicia McIntosh scored 49 of the team's 59 points, making up for a 61-53 loss to Triton in O-D's first game of the season.
"In the first game of the year, they were really still eighth graders," Minix said. "They really didn't understand the speed and the physicality of the game. After 14 games into it, they knew how much more physical it was and how the speed changes. They came out played a much better game."
The trio chipped in during a 14-0 run during a two-minute span in the first quarter, turning a 3-2 deficit into a 16-3 lead.
"They play great defense," Triton coach Adam Heckaman said. "They're all over the place. Our problem was, we had to have a good start, but we didn't."
With the defense creating turnovers, all three freshmen hit a three-pointer during the 12-0 run, while McIntosh also converted a three-point play and Avarone added another bucket to give O-D breathing room.
"Those freshmen have come a long way," Heckaman said. "We played them in the first game of the year, the first game those freshmen had ever played varsity. They've come a long way."
Campbell finished the game hitting eight of her 11 shots for a game-high 21 points to go with seven rebounds, five steals and three assists. Avarone scored 15 points, while hauling in 14 rebounds and posting five steals, and McIntosh finished with 13 points.
"They're a very good team, they're a great team," Heckaman said.
Despite getting down early, Triton did fight its way back to 37-31 following a three-pointer by sophomore Shana Anderson midway through the third quarter.
However, the Lady Bobcats responded with a 10-2 run to put the game out of reach.
"The girls did a great job of battling and really hanging around all game," Heckaman said.
On top of losing the game, Triton also lost Anderson at the 6:20 mark of the fourth quarter when she injured her ankle after scoring 12 points and posting five rebounds.
"You don't want to lose anyone for too long, especially someone who starts for us," Heckaman said. "She did a good job in the second half of really taking the ball to the basket. That's what we've been trying to get her to do the last few games. She rolled (the ankle), so we're hoping it's not too bad. We'll get her rested up and if nothing else, we won't have her for a week or two, but have her back for sectional."
Along with Anderson's point production, Triton also got eight from senior Allison Thacker, seven from senior Emily Duff, as well as eight rebounds out of junior Megan Howdeshell.
With the season series now knotted at 1-1, there's a chance the teams meet up again during Sectional 50 play. With that possibility looming, the young Lady Bobcats wanted to send a message in the Bi-County game.
"After losing that first game, they wanted to leave no doubt in Triton's mind that, 'Hey, you beat us in the first one, but you're not going to get us on this one.'," Minix said.
