Tam Girls Steamrolled in NCS Hoops Battle

For the girls basketball team, a season that started with a and youth-laden roster ended with the kind of pasting that good teams later look back on as an essential learning experience.

The seventh-seeded Red-tailed Hawks fell 74-29 to second-seeded Campolindo High in Moraga Friday night in a second-round North Coast Section (NCS) playoff battle, ending a solid postseason run that provided plenty of reason to expect even bigger things next season.

The Hawks (19-11) came into the contest with the knowledge that it hung with = the East Bay powerhouse for a bit in a Dec.2 preseason loss.

But the Cougars came out fierce and on fire this time, forcing multiple turnovers and hitting its first three shots for a quick 7-0 lead. Tam coach Mike Evans had to use three early timeouts as Campolindo ran out to a 25-4 lead.

“They just played really aggressive and strong and we played a bit tentative,” Evans said. “By the time we knew it, we were in a big hole.”

Campolindo was led by Annelise Ito’s 14 points and Amanda Forshay’s 11, while Tam’s junior standouts Hallie Brauner and Jenna May paced the Hawks with six and five points, respectively.

“Their entire team was scoring, so you couldn’t concentrate on one or two players,” Evans said of Campolindo. “In the first game with them, we were able to slow their momentum at times, but we weren’t able to do that this time.”

Despite the tough, season-ending loss, Evans said the Hawks have a bright future, losing only seniors Olivia Trumbadore and Katie Lee from its 14-girl roster. Leading scorers Brauner and May return, along with post presence Britt Lindberg and guard Jane Lee. And Evans said his – Amanda Barriscale, Elizabeth Archer and Olivia Heitz – made tremendous progress this season.

“They really grew up,” Evans said.

Tam played three of the top six NCS seeds during the season – including Campolindo twice – and Evans said he expects to out together another tough schedule next season in the hopes of preparing the girls to make a longer postseason run.

“Those teams are the measuring stick for where we want to go,” he said. “You have to see what the next level looks like, and I think this season will help us a great deal next season. I’m very optimistic about team.”