Columbus — Fresh off their season opener Friday night, the Briggs Lady Bruins hit the court again Saturday afternoon, hosting the Linden-McKinley Lady Panthers. The Lady Bruins aimed to rebound from their opening loss to Franklin Heights and even their record at 1-1.
Briggs jumped out to a 4-0 lead, capitalizing on a pregame technical foul assessed to Linden-McKinley and scoring on the opening possession. Despite their physical play in the first quarter, the Lady Bruins found themselves trailing 14-12 as the Lady Panthers began to find their offensive rhythm.
In the second quarter, Briggs hit a wall offensively, struggling with turnovers and missed shots. The Lady Bruins were outscored 22-8 by Linden-McKinley, entering halftime in a 36-20 deficit. Postgame, Coach Kevin Jones reflected on the halftime message after the tough stretch. “We are teaching them to stay positive and focus on the basics,” he said. “It’s about playing with confidence, and I think they embraced that at halftime.”
The halftime talk sparked a momentum shift for Briggs as they came out ready to battle in the third quarter. With a mix of grit and timely breaks, the Lady Bruins outscored Linden-McKinley 13-3, narrowing the gap to 39-33 heading into the final period. Riding that momentum, Briggs eventually took the lead, thanks to a strong surge led by freshman Mali Woods-Law, who finished with 22 points. However, despite their second half effort, the Lady Bruins couldn’t hold on.
In the final seconds, Linden-McKinley sealed the win with a pair of free throws from Christiana Towns, claiming a 49-47 victory over Briggs and leaving the Lady Bruins at 0-2 on the season. Coach Jones reflected on the growth of his young team, acknowledging the challenges of winning close games. “Being down almost 20 points, it’s nice to almost come out with the win,” he said. “We tell them how exciting they are to watch, but also remind them of their youth and the need to learn how to close out these tight games.”
Mali Woods-Law finished with a team-high 22 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. Coach Jones was enthusiastic about her performance postgame, saying, “She is tough, relentless, and a natural leader. She can play multiple positions. It’s an honor and privilege to coach her, and her future is bright.”
Alongside Woods-Law, Jasmine Truss and Teasia Ray also made key contributions for Briggs, each recording seven points. The duo also combined for 11 rebounds, 10 steals, and four blocks. Despite the tough loss, Coach Jones remains optimistic about his young squad’s future. “I tell them that I love what they are doing,” Jones said. “Just imagine what this team of freshmen and sophomores can be in a year or two if we stick together. I love it, it’s exciting.”
Briggs (0-2) visits Columbus South on December 3rd in their first conference match of the season.
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