For the second straight game, the Bow High girls’ basketball team blanked its opponent in the first quarter. And for the 11th straight game, the Falcons won.
Wednesday night’s 45-27 drubbing of ConVal vaulted the Falcons’ record to 13-2 on the season. The Cougars fell to 4-9.
The win streak has launched Bow into second place in the NHIAA Division II standings. They are second only to unbeaten Hanover (14-0).
Despite the dominant run, head coach Phil Davis said the team isn’t paying attention to the streak.
“Next one up is where we’re at,” said Davis.
Bow’s win streak never seemed in doubt Wednesday night. After a 12-0 first quarter, the Falcons extended their lead to 14 before ConVal finally got one in the hoop with just over six minutes left in the half.
“Our identity really is our defense,” said Davis. “And that’s what we pride ourselves on, is trying to keep teams down below their season averages and you know, we had a good effort there in that first quarter.”
Bow’s trademark press gave the Cougars fits all quarter. ConVal tried long passes to break out of the backcourt, but Bow clogged the passing lanes and consistently got back to cover the paint.
On the offensive end, junior Bella LaPerle scored 10 points in the first quarter, including a three-pointer and perfect shooting on three trips to the line. The small but tenacious guard finished the night with 12 points and crisscrossed the court with a seemingly never-ending energy supply.
Things got a little shaky for the home team as the second quarter progressed. ConVal’s first basket of the night was the start of a 9-0 run that brought the Cougars within five. Missed shots from Bow prevented it from implementing its press, and ConVal capitalized with darting runs inside and by winning fouls in the paint.
“They certainly slowed our offense down and forced us to work hard for every basket we got,” said Davis. “And we certainly got in some foul trouble. Their defensive intensity was really good and we just had to kind of grind one out.”
A small run by Bow provided breathing room at the half, and the Falcons went into the locker room up, 18-11.
The second half was all Falcons. Bow’s offense found its groove and came alive for 27 second-half points.
Sophomore Juliette Tarsa notched 11 points in the final 16 minutes. The defense held the Cougars to a meager 16 points in the second half. Bow was physical in the paint and took in more rebounds on both ends of the court.
Next up for Bow is a trip to Kennett, which sits seventh in the standings with a record of 9-4.