Playing the conference opener on the road against the North Crawford Trojans last Thursday didn’t seem to get the attention of the Ithaca Bulldogs-not at first anyway. Starting the season under new head coach Mike Allbaugh with loses in their first two games, the North Crawford girls basketball team had a mission in their first conference game at home on Thursday, Dec. 6. Playing the defending conference co-champions was not an easy task, but the Trojans managed to put victory in the win column, knocking of Ithaca with a final score of 39-33.
North Crawford started the game off with a great defensive effort ending the first quarter with a score of 3-5 with the Bulldogs in the lead.
Sparked by six points in the second quarter by senior MacKenzie Swiggum and five from junior Bailey Stevenson, the Trojans took command of the game going into the locker room leading by five points with the score 18-13.
Slowing the scoring down a bit in the third quarter, but adding to their lead, the Trojans finished the quarter in control with a score of 26-17.
An out-of-control fourth quarter sent the Trojans to the free throw line 17 times, where they only managed to convert on seven of them. Nevertheless, North Crawford hung on to win with a final score of 39-33.
Leading the Trojans was senior MacKenzie Swiggum with 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Following closely behind was her sister, Natasha Swiggum, with 10 points, six rebounds and two assists. Bailey Stevenson added eight points two rebounds and three assists while Olevia Kvigne added six points and two rebounds. Finishing up the scoring for the Trojans was freshman point guard Sydney Stevenson, who added two points.
“I am very proud of the defensive effort that the girls displayed today,” Coach Allbaugh said after the game. “That is our strength and we will continue to improve on it. We still have some things to work on, but this is a quality win for us and couldn’t have come at a better time. Things are starting to come together for the team as they continue to get stronger with each practice.”