MINERAL WELLS —
By TONY EIERDAM
It could get uglier.
On Tuesday, the Mineral Wells Lady Rams defeated Lake Worth, 92-9. The Lady Rams could have easily scored 100 and possibly 110 but coaches decided to let the fourth-quarter clock constantly run, and MWHS also cleared the bench and ran a patient offense in the final stanza.
The Lady Rams, 18-5 overall and 2-0 in District 6-3A, will continue district play at 6:30 p.m. today at Fort Worth Diamond Hill.
Lake Worth beat Diamond Hill in the district opener, meaning the MWHS ladies could easily surpass the century mark.
After the Lake Worth game, Lady Rams head coach Ed Shelstead said it was a good contest because everyone got to play and had fun, and he added “they are also reminded why they love to play this game.”
Diamond Hill, 0-2 in 6-3A, has lost 37-22 to Lake Worth and 78-15 to Kennedale. The combined 37 points in two games is the lowest in district.
In winning their first two district games, the Lady Rams have used their strength of their one-two punch in post Sydney Shelstead and wing Niya Benavides to help score 179 points, with Shelstead and Benavides combining to score 99 of those points.
But a bigger positive has also emerged as the other Lady Rams fell into their respective, important roles.
Guards Courtney Peña, Bethany Allen, and Natalie Ragland, along with wing Kennedy Shelstead, have been defensive beasts on the perimeter, and Ragland, just a freshman, has shown senior poise while quarterbacking the Lady Rams from her point guard position.
Kennedy Shelstead has also shown a knack for scoring, and she is also a force on baseline drives.
Post Ashlynn Robinson has been slowed by injuries, but Ed Shelstead said that when Robinson returns (possibly today) that she will provide athleticism and power down low, along with solid defense.
But on Tuesday, two sophomore guards also proved to Lady Rams’ fans why their coach placed them on varsity to begin the season.
Pamela Hopkins scored a season-high 20 points in the game, and with more playing time at the point, Riley Bullock showed confidence, play-making ability and shooting prowess as she effortlessly drained a pair of three-point buckets.
Both sophomore guards took advantage of playing time afforded in Tuesday’s blowout.
“(Hopkins) makes us better,” Ed Shelstead said following the Lake Worth game. “We needed somebody to emerge and make us better, and I think she is doing that.”
After Friday, the Lady Rams will finally be tested in 6-3A, traveling to Springtown on Tuesday and coming back home a week from today to host Kennedale.
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