This was scheduled to be a long day. At least Ron was with me for it. First up was a tasty, but quick lunch at Chik-fil-a. Dessert came when we got to the Pan-Am Center and picked up free
cookies for “Brookie Cookie” day. I’m
sure Brooke Salas loves to be called
“Brookie.” Some student association was
handing out free pizza just outside one of the entrances as well. While we were passing through the concourse,
we saw the TV analyst coach chowing down on half a pizza in his hands.
After we sat down, the PA started playing some old song
from the 40’s I’d never heard before. It
was like some kind of rumba number. It
was really cool. I wonder if we’ll hear
it again. The Roadrunner Review Band played a variation of the Aggie fight song
when the team came in to warm up. They
also played Taylor Swift’s Trouble again. They even sang out during the chorus.
The girls didn’t seem to be suffering any ill effects
from attending last night’s Softball game. I noticed Gia Pack and Aaliyah Prince
practicing with each other. One would do
some fancy dribble, and the other would have to repeat the move. Today’s opponent, the GCU Lopes, came out. They
only brought nine players with them, but they looked pretty big. In fact, #53 Sharon Miller looked a lot like she should be playing offensive
tackle on a football team. The team was
wearing t-shirts and long-sleeve shirts instead of tank tops. They did have some tight-looking purple
sneakers on.
A really good crowd was forming, even early. The little Razzle Dazzle Cheerleaders would be performing at the half. One of my more agreeable co-workers and her
family coincidentally sat down in front of us and I said “Hello.” Some of the parents left at the half, but
they stayed for the whole game.
First Quarter
The game started off well for the Aggies with a couple
of steals right off the bat, including one for Brooke. Gia took a bad fall on defense. She came up limping, but was okay. She didn’t have much of a choice on playing,
they passed her the ball right away. GCU
was keeping up. #12 Carla Balague scored three-straight layups in the lane off of some
great passing.
I noticed #5 Laura
Piera on their team. She was a
pretty girl with long blonde hair. She
hit a couple of free throws after getting fouled, but I noticed the freshman
from Spain seemed to be overmatched running the point. This was my first indication that this wasn’t
the same team I saw beating the Aggies in Phoenix last month (1-10-19). I wish the game had
been on the radio, so I could have heard the pregame. I wonder if GCU was short-handed of some of
their better players.
Brooke missed her first few shots until she hit a three
off a Gia steal. Stabresa McDaniel and Prince also hit three’s to make it 15-10
Aggies. Gia got called for traveling on
a couple of trips, but the next time down she ran right down the lane for a
layup. Brooke would score a last second
layup to give the Aggies a 19-12 lead.
Second Quarter
Dino Dash! The
staff might have decided not to keep the large crowd waiting, suspecting they
might be leaving early. There were no
fights this time between the “Dino-mite” contestants. (I’m quoting.
I didn’t say it.) Of course, it
was still good for plenty of laughs.
The Aggies were using a high-pressure defense for the
game and putting in lots of subs.
Obviously, they were trying to tire out the Lopes’ short bench. GCU started taking some bad shots and the
Aggies went up 23-14. They took a
timeout in the middle of two free throws by Prince. During the extended TV break, Kalei Atkinson started chatting with
one of the refs. It might have been
about shoes, since they were looking down.
The Aggie defense continued to be excellent. At one point, Sharon Miller was double-teamed
and attempted to pass the ball to a ref.
Adenike Aderinto got a steal
and a pair of free throws. Gia took
another spill after getting another steal.
She hit the floor again going for a loose ball. She’s tough and lucky.
With about two minutes left in the half, hundreds of
little cheerleaders started lining up in the aisles. They’d have to wait a few minutes as there
was a lot of fouling that was slowing down the game. Dominique
Mills got a steal and free throws.
Both teams got a bit sloppy in the last minute. Brooke got a rebound off a miss and a
stickback for another last second bucket.
It was 37-18 at the half. This
was not what I expected for this game.
Halftime
The Razzle Dazzle Cheerleaders came out on to the
court. These little girls boosted
today’s attendance by 400 just by themselves.
Parents all over the arena got out their phones to record the
performance. Other than them being cute,
my only comment is that their coaches were pretty hot. They reminded me of that woman that’s the Aggie Cheerleaders’ coach.
Third Quarter
Monique
Mills popped a three right at the beginning of the quarter. The last meeting between these two teams, the
Aggies had zero three’s. They’d finish
this game with six. However, they
collected three quick fouls. Though the
Aggies were up big, they were still hustling.
Brooke went airborne and out-of-bounds to save an air-ball and get the
rebound.
Three minutes in and the Lopes were already in the
bonus. Unfortunately for them, they
couldn’t hit a foul shot, so it wasn’t hurting the Aggies. The Aggies kept scoring. Gia and Brooke scored layups off of
turnovers. Gia in particular got some
very friendly bounces off the rim on a couple of shots. Timeout at 56-24 Aggies.
Brooke and Gia took seats on the bench. At that point, they had more combined points
than GCU. Oh God, then it happened. The PA played . . . (I can hardly bring
myself to type it) . . . Baby Shark. Yes, one of the most obnoxious Internet memes
ever was being playing in the real world.
Of course, the kids there ate it up, sang along, and did the dance.
With the reserves all in, Tayelin Grays made a nice pass inside to find Baylee Robinson for a layup.
Brooke came back in and got a steal and a layup off of Laura Piera. Now I was officially feeling bad for
Laura. Nike got a great basket at the
end of the quarter. The ball pinballed
around under the basket between several players before she grabbed it and stuck
it in. 65-32 Aggies after three
quarters.
Fourth Quarter
Pistol
Pete
was again lifted by the Cheerleaders
(the guys that is) as in the last game (2-7-19). It was a shaky mount, but they nailed the
maneuver. (Maybe they should consider
retiring this stunt before something happens to our beloved mascot.) Pete then did the Macarena with the crowd. The
Band was already singing the fight song in victory early in the quarter. They were “wobbling in their boots” as Jack Nixon would say.
#21 Venla Yaris
finally hit the first GCU three of the game in the fourth quarter. Laura had been guarding Gia since the end of
the third quarter. I don’t care what the
program sheet says, there is not a 1” difference in their heights. It’s more like six and was a severe
mismatch. Even then, the Aggies were in
a four-minute scoring drought, but GCU could not capitalize on it.
Brooke, of course, would come in and break the
drought. Varis hit another three, but
Gia answered right back with one. In the
second quarter, Miller had scored on Baylee under the basket. I was thinking Baylee’s teammates might be
teasing her later. I have to admit
though, Miller could actually play and scored 8 in the second half. Trust me, she doesn’t have a baller’s
physique.
During a timeout at 72-42, a camera caught a little
cheerleader girl “dabbing.” It was
cute. Tayelin popped a three right out
of the break. Pam Wilmore made a great play inside for a basket. Ooh, Brooke later took a spill under the goal. The crowd collectively held its breath, but
she was okay. Brooke was pulled out
immediately for the rest of the game. At
77-48 Aggies, I noticed both teams’ coaches were seated. No sense in them getting worked up at this
point.
Bre made a great move under the basket for a reverse
layup. Aissatou Fall fouled out and was applauded by the crowd as she went
to the bench. She’d been soaking up
fouls during the game. They’d passed to
her a couple of times inside, but she wasn’t able to finish. Fall just needs a little more experience to
be effective. Before the end, GCU
started making free throws, especially Balague.
I’m sure their attractive coach, Nicole
Powell, was mentally saying, Now
you’re making them?
Our final was 81-52
Aggies. I was in shock, but I’ll
take it as a fan. Did GCU accidently
send their JV team? Looking at their
5-14 record, they’re actually not that good.
I really wish I had some background on this game. Carla
Balague led them with 12 points. Sharon Miller was next with 10. I shouldn’t have doubted why she was out on the
court. Laura Piera had 9 on a rough day, but at least she’s still
good-looking.
Everyone played for the Aggies and 10 of the 12 players
scored. Brooke Salas celebrated her senior day with cookies and 25 points
and 18 rebounds. Gia Pack was next with 19 points and at least 3 bruises. The other girls chipped in as well. If this was a revenge game, the Aggies got it
and then some. I’m happy Brooke and Gia
came out of this uninjured, because any of those falls in the game could have
done them in. No time for reflection
though. We were off to see Aggie Softball, joined in progress.
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