Lady 'Dogs break winless streak

Jessica Slaybaugh had tears in her eyes as she walked off the basketball court Jan. 28 — but this time they were for all the right reasons.

The Lady Bulldogs topped Ronan 42-36 on Jan. 28 to give Whitefish their first victory of the season. The 'Dogs sank 12 free throws and played lock-down defense in the final period to seal the win and snap an 11-game losing streak that had cast a cloud over the team's waning spirits.

"It feels great to get a win," Slaybaugh said. "I'm so proud of the team. They said they would get me a win this year, since I'm the only senior, and they did."

Junior Danielle McCully provided the offensive tenacity as she led the team with 16 points, including a deep three in the second that brought a rare smile to the faces of every green and gold jersey on the floor.

"My shot just felt right, and I wanted the ball." McCully said. "We worked really hard to get this win. We all came together for this."

Coach Sean Duff said McCully has the capability to score 15 points a game.

"I've been telling her that to score, you have to shoot the ball," Duff said. "She wanted the ball in her hands."

Whitefish got things going halfway through the first quarter when McCully nailed a long jumper that sparked a 10-0 run that gave the 'Dogs a five-point lead going into the second.

Slaybaugh added a running jump shot in the lane — her signature move on offense — and a long deuce from the corner before the buzzer to give Whitefish a commanding 22-12 lead going into the half.

The hot shooting continued in the third, as Whitefish extended their lead to 10 behind consecutive treys from McCully and Mariah Kanistanaux.

Ronan eventually went on a 12-2 run to knot the game at 30-30 in the fourth, but clutch shooting at the stripe — something the 'Dogs have lacked all season — from Karissa DeMarco, Olvia Nagler, Taylor Havens, McCully, Slaybaugh and Kanistanaux proved to be the difference in the final two minutes.

Havens sank a free throw with four ticks on the clock to give Whitefish a 42-36 lead. As time expired and the bench cleared, Duff looked toward the stands and let out a sigh of relief and a wide smile.

"It was great for the kids to get that win," Duff said. "We've been telling them all along that if they keep working hard, the wins will take care of themselves.

"It's good to build momentum going into divisionals. They know what it feels like to win now."

The win put Ronan and Whitefish in a tie for fourth place in the conference. Ronan knocked off the 'Dogs 42-32 earlier in the season.

The two teams will likely meet as the No. 4 and 5 seeds at the divisional tournament later this month.