Lady Miners drop opener

Linton-Stockton committed 33 turnovers in a 43-13 loss at Monrovia to open the high school girls basketball season Tuesday night.

"Every time you turn the ball over it is at least two points that you could have scored and two that your opponent can score," said Lady Miner coach Brad McKinney. "Every time you turn the ball over it can be a four-point swing, if not five or six.

"We just flat out turned the ball over too much. I was worried about our young kids and how they would respond in their first varsity competition. I wasn't upset with our defense, but we just gave them way too many easy opportunities in transition."

McKinney said his Lady Miners played a team that was more aggressive, at both ends of the court.

"We just cannot score. We have to look to score," said McKinney. "Some of our girls did not even look at the basket. We have to become more offensive minded and take open shots. They were more physical than we were.

"This is not the start we wanted, but we learned some things that we have to improve upon."

The Lady Miners do not have a junior varsity team.

Linton-Stockton's varsity returns to action at 7 p.m. Thursday when they travel to Bicknell to face Class 2A Sectional foe North Knox.

LINTON-STOCKTON (13) -- Gadberry 2 0-2 2, Shafford 0 0-0 0, Neighbors 1 0-0 2, Johnson 2 0-0 6, Parker 0 0-2 0. Totals 5 0-4 13.

MONROVIA (43) -- Smith 3 0-0 6, Tharp 1 0-0 2, Casteel 7 0-0 14, Ma. Knieper 2 0-0 5, Wright 0 0-0 0, Me. Knieper 0 0-0 0, Whitaker 0 0-0 0, Delph 5 0-2 10, Nay 2 0-0 4, Keen 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 0-2 43.

Linton-Stockton 0 7 0 6 -- 13

Monrovia 8 12 12 11 --43

3-pointers -- Linton-Stockton 3 (Johnson 2, Gadberry), Monrovia 1 (Ma. Knieper). Fouls -- Linton-Stockton 6, Monrovia 11. Fouled out -- None. No junior varsity game.