Palmer Ridge girls basketball's identity is its defense, and it displayed that Thursday night in its 59-38 dominant road victory over Discovery Canyon.
The Bears' (9-2) stout defense stifled the Thunder (8-4) offense to keep the lead for the majority of the contest and held Natalie Neuhaus to nine points. Neuhaus, who averaged 17.2 points before Thursday, did not score until the third quarter on a pair of free throws, and added seven more in the fourth.
Despite a late rally by Discovery Canyon in the final minute of the game, it couldn't overcome a double-digit deficit created in the second quarter. After taking the lead halfway through the first, Palmer Ridge stayed ahead for the rest of the game and scored 25 in the fourth quarter (56-31).
"For us, our staple is if we can play defense and play it well, we will always be in the game," Bears head coach Jason Boyer said. "But on offense, I was pleasantly surprised with how, after the first quarter, we were able to execute and take what they gave us and capitalize on it."
After the Thunder got the opening points, the teams only added six more combined until the four minute mark in the first quarter when Palmer Ridge went on a 7-0 run. A three by Taylor McCann put Discovery Canyon back on the board. But the Bears still held a 13-7 advantage after the quarter.
Palmer Ridge came out strong with a 7-2 run to start the second, but the Thunder offense started to come alive early to pull within six. However, despite some foul trouble, the Bears maintained a comfortable 26-17 lead at the half and kept Neuhaus scoreless.
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Neuhaus was Palmer Ridge's priority going into the contest.
"We knew we wanted to slow Natalie down," Boyer said. "I thought we did a good job on her. Most of the game I had shooting guard Addie Steenland on her, who I think is the best perimeter defender in the area."
Steenland, who had 12 points on the night, averages 2.4 steals per game while her teammates Corinna Arellano, Taylor Peterson, Annaliese Bossinger, and Sofia Romero average 2.2 or more.
Discovery Canyon went into the fourth quarter with urgency, going on an early 9-0 run that included Neuhaus getting her first field goal of the night. However, Palmer Ridge still had a comfortable 22-point lead with five minutes left and kept that momentum until the end despite the Thunder rally.
Although they allowed some last chance points, the Bears are happy about the rivalry win that boosts their confidence going forward.
"We could have stayed more disciplined, not getting fouled or allowing easy shots. But we finished strong and that's what mattered," Bossinger said. "This was a rivalry game so emotions were there but we did good at staying strong and staying together."