The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG -- The WP Lady Cardinals remain in third place in the Blue Mountain League with a 52-27 victory over the Walla Walla Valley Academy Knights last Tuesday night.

WP's Ronnie Hulce got things rolling with a quick bucket for the Cardinals, but the Knights quickly answered with a steal that they converted into a fast break layup.

The Cardinal defense began with a full-court press that produced a stealing spree in the next few trips down the floor.

WP's Kristin Potter got her hands on a Knight pass, but all the excitement of bringing the ball down the court caused a Cardinal turnover and the Knights had the ball again.

The Cardinals kept the press coming causing two back-to-back turnovers when Hulce picked off the Knights and found Potter both times for a 8-3 WP lead.

The Cardinals kept the press coming, keeping their fouls and Knight baskets to a minimum for the remainder of the first quarter.

Free throws from Dionna Baker and Hailey Goenen added two more for the Cards. Hulce then found Baker underneath for two with 38 seconds remaining and the Cardinals were up, 15-6, at the end of the first.

The Cardinals secondquarter blues were a no show Tuesday night as they outscored the Knights, 17- 7, in the second quarter.

Baker started things off with her own put back for two, followed by two foul shots from Hulce. The WP defense was pressing hard, forcing turnovers and fighting for jump balls.

With three consecutive baskets from Baker, and only one-three point basket from the Knights, the Cardinals were up, 26-13.

Potter took her turn at the hoop with her own put back from a driving layup. She drew a foul on another drive up the lane and sank both her freebies with 29 seconds left in the half.

The Knights then turned the ball over under their basket and that gave Hulce plenty of time for one last Cardinal basket and a 32- 13 WP halftime lead.

The Cardinals began the second half with a turnover that the Knights were able to turn into a basket, but Potter was quick to answer with one of her own.

Goenen got her hands on a Knight turnover and was fouled as she laid it up, but was unable to connect from the free-throw line.

It was another Cardinal steal from Harris that she took coast-to-coast for another Cardinal basket.

Hulce followed that up with a steal of her own that she dished to Potter in the key for a 38-15 Cardinal lead.

Potter collected her third foul of the night, giving the Knights two more points from the line. The Knight scored one more field goal before Baker hit a free throw of her own and Hulce had back-toback baskets for a 43-19 Cardinal lead.

The Cardinals continued to be too much for the Knights holding them to just eight fourth-quarter points.

The WP bench began its cycle through the floor helping the Cardinals cruise to a 54-27 victory with baskets from Enedina Fuentes, Katy Hofer and Chelsea Brannock.

"WWVA did a good job pressuring us," said WP head coach Jerry Baker. "They played more consistently this game."

"The girls only had 15 turnovers and had much better ball handling tonight," said Baker. "They must be getting tired of running all those lines."

Although Baker's hustle and bustle seemed to be lacking, she was top scoring with 15 points and 14 rebounds.

Hulce was all over the court racking up 13 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Potter was the third Cardinal to hit double digits with 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

The Cardinals face the Asotin Panthers this Saturday in Waitsburg at 5 p.m.

Waitsburg vs. WWVA 54-27

Waits 15 17 11 11 - 54 WWVA6768-27

Baker 15 pts, 14 reb