By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
It’s only two games – and both against inferior opponents – but it’s safe to say the East Troy High School girls basketball team is off to a good start.
East Troy opened the 2015-16 season Nov. 17 with a dominating 70-13 win over visiting Bradley Tech, followed by a 75-13 win Friday night over host Brown Deer.
The Trojans, which feature just one senior this year in Katrina Santos, are 2-0 overall.
So far, so good, coach Jeff Brown said.
“I like that we’re pretty organized after two games,” he said. “We weren’t scattered all over the place. I don’t know if our competition was the best, but we did a lot of good things.”
In the win over Brown Deer, East Troy held a 40-5 first-half lead and never was challenged. The Trojans outscored the Falcons 35-8 the final 18 minutes.
Santos led three girls in double figures (23 points, 19 rebounds, four blocks), followed by freshman Erin Rice (14 points, five steals) and junior Maddie Rosin (13 points, eight assists). Rosin drained three 3-pointers, while Rice had two treys.
Other leaders were freshman Mackenzie Lindow (seven points, six assists) and juniors Ashley Weber (12 rebounds), Kayla Casper (nine rebounds), Callie Vogel (seven rebounds, four steals) and Caitlyn O’Donnell (four steals).
Brown said he sensed his team was more relaxed as the first two games unfolded.
“The kids started getting out of the nervous zone to start feeling good about themselves,” he said.
The opener was a similar tale, as the Trojans led 38-2 at halftime over Bradley Tech and cruised to the 57-pointwn.
Leaders included Santos (22 points, 13 rebounds), Casper (11 points, 10 rebounds), Weber (nine points, seven rebounds), Rice (eight points), Rosin (four assists) and junior Hope Schneider (four assists).
Two wins to start the season will only help the Trojans’ confidence as they move forward from here, Brown said.
“When you get two wins right away, they realize that the stuff we do will work,” he said. “Will it work as easily against better teams? It won’t.
“But the system works. They believe in each other, they start believing in the system and (realize), ‘This hard is work is why we’re doing this.’”
RVC opener up next
East Troy hosts Jefferson Tuesday, Dec. 1, in its Rock Valley Conference opener at 7:15 p.m. The Eagles entered play this week at 1-0 after 56-31 win in their opener over Westosha Central.
“They play really hard,” Brown said. “Typical Jefferson, hard-nosed kids. They have a couple young kids who can play. I think we can stay with them. It will be interesting to see how it goes.”
The Trojans finish their week next Friday when they travel to Brodhead-Juda to face the Cardinals.
