BY GENE NARDI
On Wednesday, Jan. 20, the Wellington High School girls basketball team hosted Santaluces High School, and Latoya Ashman accounted for 63 percent of the Wolverines’ scoring to lift her squad to a 63-25 senior night win.
Ashman totaled 40 points, with five three-point baskets, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
The tip-off started a bit slow, with both playing solid defensively. Santaluces broke the ice to get on the board first, and briefly held on to a 3-1 lead. The lead was exchanged twice before the first period buzzer, with both teams hitting three-pointers, but the Chiefs recaptured the lead 9-8.
The second period appeared to be going in the Chiefs’ direction. Santaluces built a five point lead, but Ashman kicked into gear, propelling the Wolverines to tie the score 22-22, ending the first half of play.
The second half delivered two things, a hot Wellington offense, and a dominating defense for the Wolverines. Ashman continued to roll with some assistance from Julia Duncan and Jill Duncan. The two combined for 15 points. More impressively, the Wellington defense held the Chiefs scoreless in the third period and limited them to just three points the entire second half.
The Wolverines rolled through the Chiefs in the second half to grab the 63-25 win. Wellington is 14-8 on the season. Aurelia Lebron and Jill Duncan both had 3-point scores.
The district playoffs started this week, but results were not available by press time. Wellington is the second seed in District 9-8A.
ABOVE: Latoya Ashman adds to her points, which totaled 40Â on the night for Wellington.
