Fight ends for Bulldogs in OT

It didn't take long to realize that Thursday night's girls basketball clash between Gridley and Willows high schools was more than just your typical regular-season game.

With plenty of hard fouls, tough screens and bodies hitting the floor for every loose ball, it could only mean one thing — playoff time.

In the end, it was the Lady Bulldogs' foul trouble and a timely full-court press implemented by the Honkers that proved to be the difference as Willows escaped Farmers' Hall with a 57-51 victory in overtime in the second round of the Northern Section Division IV playoffs.

"Like I told them, you did your best and that's all you can do," Gridley coach Michelle LaViolette said. "It was a learning experience for us."

The Bulldogs (13-10) took a 34-28 lead into the fourth quarter before their top ball handler — senior point guard Erica Plasencia — fouled out with 5 minutes left to play.

With no experienced ball handler on the floor for Gridley, Willows (16-9) went to a full-court press that took the Bulldogs completely out of their game.

Willows harassed Gridley into eight turnovers and just 4-of-10 shooting in the fourth period to rally back from the six-point deficit and force overtime.

"We wouldn't have had such success with the press if (Plasencia) wouldn't have fouled out," Willows coach Jeff Fleming said. "We couldn't stop (Plasencia) and (junior wing Kacy Blenn) all night."

But when Blenn fouled out midway through the extra period, Willows took over.

The Honkers forced Gridley into five turnovers and knocked down 4-of-6 shots in the 4-minute extra frame to close out the win and set a date for the section semifinals.

"We have 3 hour workouts, so the girls are just getting started in the fourth period," Fleming said. "We did a great job and the press was just right."

But while most teams' locker rooms are filled with tears following a playoff exit, that was not the case for Gridley. With just one senior on their roster and a strong sophomore class moving up, the future looks bright for the Bulldogs next season.

"We had girls at different positions late in the game so it really was a learning experience for us," LaViolette said. "You live and you learn and we'll know better next time."

The loss offset a solid effort from Gridley's junior front-line of McKenna Cox and Lily Struble, who tallied 17 and 16 points, respectively. The two were also a force on the glass with Cox pulling down 10 rebounds and Struble adding eight boards of her own.

Blenn had a solid evening as well, finishing with eight points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

"It's a lot faster game moving from JV to varsity and getting the ball inside is something we need to work on in the offseason," LaViolette added. "We tried our best and I think the girls realize that. Both teams did a great job with the intensity tonight."

Junior forward Lindsay Van Tol led Willows with 15 points, while senior post Hailey Daniels chipped in with 14 points.