The Manitou Springs girls basketball team closed out its pre-winter break play with a big win that served several purposes.
At no point was the result of the game against Atlas Prep in question. The Mustangs rolled to a 70-8 win after taking a 33-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
It was the best offensive output the Mustangs (2-4 overall, 1-0 Tri-Peaks) have put together this season. The genuine hope is that the scoring outbreak is exactly what the team needed to get things flowing a little better on the floor.
“It’s good game practice to work on some new offenses and iron out some old offenses that we need to run better,” coach Juliana Argyle said. “Our shots were falling, so hopefully that confidence carries us through the break.”
Grace Allen led the scoring effort with a game-high 20 points, 14 of which came in the first quarter. McKesson Rhodes added 16 and Kaleena Jones scored 11. Eleven players put up points for the Mustangs, giving the home crowd something to cheer about through the course of the night.
Argyle was able to rotate the entire bench into the game and give her younger players some valuable experience. Taking advantage of those opportunities gives Manitou an opportunity to build depth from its bench and further build a deeper team moving forward.
“It’s going to help,” Rhodes said. “It’s going to make us a stronger team and help us all work together better.”
That, combined with the confidence gained from seeing shots fall and the offense working effectively in a big win, could provide a boost for the Mustangs when they return from the winter break. They’ll practice on select days before and after Christmas, then return to action when they host La Junta on Wednesday, Jan. 4.