Osky Girls Basketball Team Fights Hard, Falls to Knoxville
Oskaloosa Girls Varsity Basketball in action against Knoxville on Tuesday night.
by Matt Saville
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa girls basketball team came into Tuesday night’s game against a strong Knoxville team. They found a strong lively home crowd that may have been the thing they needed to help put up one of their best efforts of the season.
Knoxville jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead and things seemed to be starting like usual when Freshman Alexis Westercamp hit a turnaround jumper to get Osky on the board. Taylor Richardson answered with a strong drive and hit one free throw to get Osky to 4-3. Knoxville was finding the going good on scoring in the paint and they also hit a three pointer to jump out to an 8 point lead. Osky answered with baskets by Westercamp and Brittany McQueen and a layup by Richardson to close the first quarter down 19-9.
The second quarter found Osky coming out with great defense and doing a great job on the boards. Westercamp continued to show her talent on the offensive side as she scored on a short jumper followed by a Chace Moyer put back, cutting the lead to 19-13. Knoxville went on another short run, working the ball inside and went back ahead by 9. Richardson found Westercamp on a great pass and Paige Howard followed up by hitting 1 of 2 free throws, closing the half with 26-20 Knoxville.
The start of the third quarter found Osky coming out aggressively with layups by Howard and Asia, to get within two at 26-24. Knoxville answered the punches with a long three pointer and another inside basket, but baskets by Westercamp and Moyers put the game back within reach, going into the final quarter with the score being 38-32 Knoxville.
What the fourth quarter brought though were the dreaded turnovers, and that lead to numerous easy baskets for Knoxville as they extended the lead. Osky Kept trying to fight back with one of their best efforts this season. Baskets by Laudermilch and Richardson late in the game were too little too late, as Knoxville won 53-41.
Leading the way for the Indians were Westercamp with 17 pts. and 15 rebounds; Richardson with 9 pts., 4 rebounds, 4 assist and 2 steals; Moyer with 6 pts. and 6 rebounds; Laudermilch 4 pts.and 11 rebounds; Howard with 3 pts. , 4 rebounds, and 3 assist.; and McQueen with 2 pts. and 4 rebounds.
Osky is on the road this Friday at Pella Christian.
