The varsity girls basketball team fell short to the visiting Monta Vista Matadors 26-32 in an overtime loss today, January 31.

In a low-scoring night, LAHS kept up with Monta Vista all throughout the game. Both teams played exceptional defense through all four quarters, with aggressive rebounding and forced outside shots.

“We wanted intensity on both ends of the floor, [so] we came out with that mindset tonight,” Coach Kevin Lee said. “We knew they were going to be a smaller team with excellent shooters, so we knew we had to get out on all of their shooters.”

By doing so, the Eagles took away the offense Monta Vista was used to, leading them to force other shots that were well defended. The Eagles also showed intensity on the other side of the floor, with offensive rebounds that gave them second-chance points to stay close in the game.

LAHS used an aggressive playing style to draw fouls in the fourth quarter. Junior Ideen Seyed banked two free-throws within the last five seconds of regulation to put the game in overtime.

It was then that the Eagles ran out of gas. The Matadors finally found a way to get open shooters and make jump shots that put the Eagles away, leaving them scoreless in overtime.

“Our mindset was to get a win tonight for sure,” Lee said. “We had our girls focused on defensive intensity, really playing hard and executing on offense, but unfortunately we came up short in points.”

LAHS’s next challenge will be a re-match against the Freemont Firebirds in an away game this Friday, February 3. The Eagles beat the Firebirds 41-37 at home earlier this season.

[Photos by Amelia Evard]