Women’s basketball to face McClatchy on first ever Break the Record Night
By Kellen Browning and Rowan Hart,
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–
For the first time in program history, the Davis High women’s basketball team has its own Break the Record Night game, which will take place Saturday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.
The men’s basketball Break the Record Night has been steadily increasing in size for years; in 2015, more than 1,300 attended the game against Franklin. But despite going undefeated in Delta League play last year, the women never had a similar event.
“Last year, we had a whole issue about not representing women’s sports enough,” said Junior Class President Arzoo Manandhar. “So we had like a “black-out” game [for women’s soccer], but our class did think that women’s basketball—especially since they were so good—deserved a Break the Record Night too. So we wanted to make sure it happened this year.”
Manandhar, who is in charge of organizing the event for Student Government, hopes to attract at least 500 people, and encourages attendees to dress in all-blue as the Devils (7-10) host 2015 state champion McClatchy (13-4) in the South Gym. Admission is free with an ASB card and $3 without.
“We know McClatchy is an extremely good program with fast guards and great shooters, but this year they lost their height [advantage] due to an ACL injury,” junior Anika Kingsley said. “We expect Saturday’s game to be a very tough but winnable game.”
According to head coach Heather Highshoe, the Devils will need to step up on defense, play hard and play together to have a chance at winning.
“Taking care of the ball will be crucial for us. We need to give ourselves the most opportunities. Handling their press and playing aggressively,” she said. “Then can also attack well, so playing disciplined defense. And again, playing four consistent, aggressive and energetic quarters.”
DHS will need to focus on McClatchy’s guards, who are fast and athletic knockdown shooters. Consequently, the McClatchy offense averages 62 points per game (Davis averages 48).
Though the guards are talented, the Devils have a plan to tame the Lions.
“We need to have controlled yet aggressive closeouts because their guards can shoot the ball, and keep them in front of us, use our length to our advantage,” Highshoe said. “They are great passers too, so we need to read the passing lanes. Stopping [the] ball right away will help slow down their tempo.”
Though McClatchy may have the on-court advantage, the Devils will dominate the off-court game with a huge and enthusiastic crowd.
“Crowds give us motivation to keep pushing because it’s a constant reminder of what court and school you are defending,” Kingsley said. “To hear people cheering for the school and the team gets the bench and the players pumped up and ready to play four quarters of tough basketball. It’s also good to have the crowd to get into the heads of the opposite team because we have had that happen to us at away games and want to have it as an advantage at all of our home games.”
