The stands were packed on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at the newly refurbished Globe High School Gym to witness a new chapter in the Globe-San Carlos rivalry in girls’ basketball. Last year on Jan. 8, 2019, the Braves edged out Globe 62-50, and later beat them 63-58. This year it was the Braves turn to go down. Globe won decisively 66 to 58 in their first encounter of this year.

Tiger Coach Emily Belvado attributed Globe’s success to the “locked down” Tiger defense, boxing out opposing players and a man to man defense with soft side help. When a shot was in the air either friendly or opposition, she said that players should get between the opposing players and the basket giving them an edge for the rebound.  Help side doctrine holds that when an opposing player is advancing against one defender, another defender should abandon their player who was not dangerous and help the first defender to force the attacker to pass or take a bad shot. 

“Offense will always be there,” she said. But for her defense was key. But on offense, Globe did well with a 34 percent average which Belvado thought was very good.

Braves could be observed boxing out opponents themselves and ganging up on attackers, and in the first quarter things went mostly their way. Hailee Gilbert scored first for the Tigers. Aaliyah Haozous scored first for the Braves with 6:57 left in the quarter. Phinis Fall replied for Globe adding 2 points to the board. Next to score was Tiger, Jessi Swift who scored off of Natasha George’s rebound from a 3-point shot. (Score: 5-5.) Heaven Cosen got to the free throw line the hard way by being bounced (literally) out of the court by Phinis Fall while shooting and gained 2 points. (Score 5-7) Shania Cassa made it (5-10) with a three point basket. Natasha George put in a 2. And a layup by Heaven Cosen turned it into a (7-12) ball game and earned Cosen her 1000^th Prep. School point. Globe’s #23, Hailie Gilbert’s free throw made the score (9-12). The teams went back and forth for a while with no joy before Sissale Kindelay turned a foul into a point and brought the score to (10-12). Kayani Case sank a 2 too, but a three-pointer by Jessie Swift put the score to 16-17 with Globe only a point behind at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter Globe went to town with 22 points to San Carlos’ 15. To start with, the Tigers scored 3 points to the Brave’s 2, tying the score. (19-19). Laura Dalton made it 21-19 with the Tigers ahead. San Carlos came back to tie the game again, (21-21) and that was the last tie. Globe made 7 unanswered baskets to push the score to (34-24) before Cheridan Gooday and Heaven Cosen made baskets to bring Globe’s margin down a bit to 34-28. At the half the score was 38-32.

In the second half, San Carlos was playing catch-up, but their score never rose beyond one point behind Globe’s.

Globe did come up empty in their first possessions and lost the ball to a tie up allowing Kayani Case to score lessening the gap further. Allison Hudgings, scored for 2 (40-36) and Aaliyah Haozous’ 3-pointer brought the score to (40-39). But the comeback stalled when Hailee Gilbert scored, and San Carlos didn’t score in their turn. Hailee Gilbert went to the basket again (44-39), and after a time out with the ball in their possession, Phinis Fall scored with 3:52 left in the second quarter. 36-39. Then Heaven Cosen managed to put two points up in free throws. (46-41)

Both teams then went waltzing up and down the court for two barren possessions till Globe scored after the ball was freed from their basket.

Courtney Henry lost the ball in her territory to a mob of Tigers. San Carlos got it right back, but a Lady Brave tossed the ball over the basket right into the hands of a Tiger to lose the ball again.

Globe, for their part scored with a 2 ball and Cheridan Gooday scored for the Braves making the score (52-45). Globe came up empty on their last possession of the quarter and Marissa Barrasa scored. So that the third quarter ended with Globe ahead (52-47).

In the last quarter, San Carlos faltered while for Globe it was business as usual scoring 14 points to 11 points for the Braves. Globe came up with 4 points to make the score (56-47) when Jessi Swift snatched the ball from Shania Cassa and tossed it to Sissalle Kindelay who put in for 2, and San Carlos was unable to answer. 

Globe put in a 3, after which the offenses of both teams went through a number of  profitless trips up and down the court.

San Carlos had to make up the deficit and Globe had to hang on to their lead. Globe did better than that on baskets by Natasha George, Hailee Gilbert, Victoria Hosay, and Jessi Swift. Their lead went into the double digits until Cheridan Gooday’s last minute three pointer dragged San Carlos’ score back up to 58. Final score 66-58.

High scorers for the Braves were Heaven Cosen and Cheridan Gooday at 19 points each. Kayani Case put in six points and frequently stole or interfered with the Globe’s offense by fair means (or occasionally foul). Two pictures tell the tale “If I just reach over … the head’s in the way … but the ball’s there …” and then leaning back hands up “Who me?” Such an innocent seeming person too, as was Phinis Fall, who was caught hip checking her opponent off the court.  Ball hawks from both teams were on the prowl, as Globe coach Belvado noted with bodies flying everywhere after the ball. Aaliyah Haozous scored a two and a three-pointer but was apparently otherwise shut down.

For Globe the rainmakers were Natasha George, 12 points with a 40 percent success rate, Hailee Gilbert with 18 points and a 46 percent success rate and Sissalle Kindelay who scored 12 points, hitting the basket 34 percent of the time.  Allison Hudgings scored 4 points but had a total of 8 rebounds and a steal.  Scoring was distributed throughout the team.  With Jessi Swift scoring 7 points, Victoria Hosay 3, Laura Dalton with 4 and Jones and Fall with 3.

San Carlos is no doubt figuring and practicing in preparation for their next encounter on Jan. 31 at San Carlos. On Jan. 10 San Carlos beat Desert Christian 54-18, and Globe had Miami (52-16).