West Albany has been wearing teams down with its length and athleticism all season.
When Crescent Valley sprinted out to an early 12-0 lead Wednesday night, the Bulldogs stuck with their game plan and didn't panic.
West regained the lead by halftime and pulled away from visiting CV for a 48-37 Mid-Willamette Conference victory.
The Raiders jumped all over the Bulldogs in the first four minutes of play. CV carved up West's 2-3 zone and got easy looks inside and outside.
"It was a good game for Crescent Valley for a while, and then we finally stepped it up and realized that we needed to play with a little more passion," West post Sam Siegner said.
West coach Craig Swanson gave Corey James and Ashton Siegner the credit for the Bulldogs' turnaround.
"From an intensity standpoint, they got the team back on track," Swanson said. "I think we were in a state of shock when Crescent Valley jumped on us so early and often.
"I give all the credit to Crescent Valley early on for getting kids in the right spot. The good thing is the game is 32 minutes long and the kids adapted."
The Raiders led 16-8 after the first and held Sam Siegner, West's leading scorer, to zero points. CV's zone collapsed on Siegner and limited her touches.
Siegner began to assert herself in the second quarter. The senior post scored eight points during an 11-0 West run to close the first half.
"I think that was just the flow of the game," Siegner said of the scoreless quarter. "I was playing really weak in the beginning, and I picked it up a bit in the last three quarters."
The Bulldogs (12-4, 7-0) held a slim 24-23 lead at the break.
"(Siegner) is really effective from outside and inside and I have a lot of respect for her as a player. To have that kind of heighth and those kinds of skills is pretty unique at the high school level," CV coach Craig Ellingson said.
West took control of the game with an 11-1 run to start the third quarter.
Siegner had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs. James added eight points and six assists.
The Raiders (10-6, 4-2) had 18 turnovers against West's zone defense. The Bulldogs create turnovers and take away passing lanes with their long arms.
"Playing against our defense in practice, you can't ever get away with an easy pass. You have to work for everything when we are in the right spot," Swanson said.
The Bulldogs enter the second half of their Mid-Willamette Conference slate with a home game against Silverton on Friday.
West Albany 48, Crescent Valley 37
Crescent Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 7 5 9 - 37
West Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 16 16 8 - 48
Crescent Valley: Paige Kelsey 10, Annie Owen 10, Hammond 8, Sexson 7, Waite 2, Kovac, Huang, Daberko, Murphy. Totals: 12 11-12 37.
West Albany: Samantha Siegner 21, A. Siegner 10, James 8, Conser 6, King 2, Meza Wynkoop 1, K. Duvall, H. Duvall, Nelke, Trisdale. Totals: 18 7-9 48.
