Spartans can’t overcome momentum shift in RWC title tilt
Richmond lost the momentum against Odessa in the Richmond Winter Classic girls championship game because of second-half shooting woes, Spartans varsity coach Kaylee Vantrump and sophomore perimeter player Brylee Castilleja agreed.
Leading 39-33, the Spartans watched the Bulldogs take control by staging a 15-5 third-quarter run. Richmond fought to reclaim the momentum, but dropped the Jan. 31 basketball showdown at Richmond High School 59-53.
“We just had a lot of tough takes that didn’t fall; and they have some good shooters who were starting to hit a couple of outside shots that really helped them, as well as they were just attacking the basket really well,” Vantrump said.
“They were just attacking the rim a lot more than we were – shooting way better than we were,” Castilleja said.
Composure was key to staging the run, according to Odessa coach Jake Doyle. A few fourth-quarter free throws, however, ensured Richmond didn’t flip the script in the closing seconds.
With the…