Digital Harbor coach Patrick McDonald challenged his team at halftime of Friday night's game at Western. The Rams were down by five, and McDonald told the Rams that they would have to play harder if they really wanted this game.
Ke'shara Floyd helped No. 4 Digital Harbor answer that challenge. She scored 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half, and the Rams' tough defense slowed No. 3 Western en route to a 55-50 victory in a Baltimore City game.
The victory gives Digital Harbor (10-5, 7-0) first place in its division, ahead of Western (6-6, 6-1). In addition, it was the first time the Rams have beaten Western, the four-time defending Baltimore City champion.
Digital Harbor turned things around in the third quarter. Western had a 31-26 halftime lead, but the Rams outscored the Doves 18-3 in the period. The Rams scored the final 10 points of the quarter as part of a 14-0 run that gave them a 48-34 lead early in the fourth.
"Basketball is a game of runs," McDonald said. "The run [for us] had to come defensively. We had to step up the defensive pressure ... and step up the defensive rebounding."
The defensive pressure resulted in Western making only seven of 33 shots and turning the ball over 13 times in the second half. Every time the Doves drove to the basket, there was a hand in their face.
Digital Harbor held Western to just one offensive rebound in the third quarter, as the Doves missed eight of nine shots from the field. Floyd, Asia Logan (12 points) and Janay Brinkley helped at both ends.
"We wanted it bad," Floyd said. "We executed more, and we communicated more. [McDonald] said if we really wanted to win this game, step it up, don't give up."
Jannah Tucker and Ashle Craig led Western with 11 points apiece. The Doves were frustrated because they did get some good scoring chances and had several shots go in and out during the second half.
"The shots were not falling," Western coach Tiffany Silver said. "You hate for your own rims to treat you that way."
D-Parks 2, Logan 12, Brinkley 9, Floyd 19, Harrison 6, Beckwith 7. Totals: 18 18-26 55.
W-Craig 11, Spence 2, Bell 4, Stevenson 2, A. Tucker 7, Alston 2, McKnight 6, J. Tucker 11, Ward 5. Totals: 18 12-17 50. Half: W, 31-26.