Bella Vista Girls Basketball Dominates Central Valley in Playoffs Home Opener

The fourth-seeded Bella Vista lady Broncos varsity basketball team took a quick five-point deficit coming into Tuesday’s home Division II playoff opener against the unseeded Central Valley Hawks. That lead lasted less than two minutes into the first quarter, as it was all the Hawks (14-8) could do but watch as the Broncos (22-5) coasted to victory, 64-32.

The Broncos came in with injuries and head coach Gwyn Jackson knew that issue would put a spotlight on her two seniors, guard Kelly Logue and forward Leah Parrish – an issue Jackson was prepared for.

“Neither team knew much about one another,” Jackson said. “They look at the stats, they’re going to try to take Kelly and Leah away from us. If I was coaching against me that’s what I would try to do.”

Jackson said her team had been practicing to eliminate three-point shots, knowing three Hawks guards, including senior Myra Naranjo, had been shooting around 45 percent from beyond the arch.  Jackson also reminded her team ball movement and good shot decisions would be critical.

“The best shot on the floor is the one that needs to be taken, not just passing to Kelly and Leah,” Jackson said.

Logue would be all over the court though, accounting for six steals and 31 points, nearly matching Central Valley’s total score. Junior forward Jennifer Johnson scored a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

“They just couldn’t guard us inside,” Jackson said after the game. “When we put Leah inside it really opened it up and Kelly started to penetrate.”

Team captain, Logue felt the win was a big confidence boost going into Thursday’s home matchup against twelfth-seeded Benicia, which upset fifth-seeded Antelope earlier Tuesday.

“It mentally prepared us for the next round and it’s exciting,” said Logue.

Parrish realizes much of what lent to tonight’s success can carry into Thursday’s match up, so long as the team continues to work at the same performance level.

“Everything is 10 times more intense and 10 times more aggressive, so I don’t really think it matters,” Parrish said. “We’re going to play the same.”

Jackson said she will let the players feed off the success of tonight’s hard work, but knows afterward the team will have to reclaim its focus if it wants to win again.

“If you do what you do well, it doesn’t matter what the other team knows about you,” Jackson said. “We have to play defense and we have to rebound. It doesn’t matter what the other team can do as long as we can do those two things.”