Written by Dale Strode:
January 17th, 2010. Durango, CO. - Coach Mark Kellogg might want to keep this tape.
Kellogg, the head coach of the 11th-ranked Fort Lewis College women's basketball team, could save Saturday night's game tape as a memento of his record-setting 100th career victory at FLC.
Or he could use the tape as an instructional video after the Skyhawks overwhelmed Colorado School of Mines 77-40 at Whalen Gym, putting on a series of clinics against the top team in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference East Division.
“This game ranks right up there," Kellogg said after the dominating victory. “We played really well. I thought our defensive effort was phenomenal."
With its full-court press working in textbook fashion, FLC bolted to a 17-0 lead as the Orediggers struggled to engineer a solution to the press.
Even when the Orediggers reached their offensive end, the Skyhawks extended their relentless pressure to the tune of 40 forced turnovers, including 21 in the first half when FLC built a commanding 38-14 lead.
Mines' first basket came more than eight minutes into the game.
“We locked in, and we defended the entire night," Kellogg said.
“These girls are determined."
The Skyhawks totaled 21 steals. Twice, their half-court defense forced five-second inbound violations by the Orediggers.
Offensively, the Skyhawks' instructional performance focused on post play and feeding the post.
“Our guards got the posts the ball in a position where they could score," Kellogg said in a professorial analysis of the postgame statistics.
Senior Allison Rosel powered in a game-high 18 points on 8 of 12 shooting, all from close range.
Fellow senior Audrey George banked in 12 points, and she worked the ball inside to Rosel for three assists.
“We've been working on those post moves all week in practice," Rosel said. “We knew we had to sprint to our spots (on the offensive end), to set up."
And the guards delivered passes when the inside players were in position to score, Rosel said.
“We got some good looks," Kellogg said. “Like Rosel. From in there she is so tough. She has such good body control.
“Everyone played well," the FLC coach said, adding that Dana Schreibvogel, Mary Rose Paiz and Jenna Santistevan had strong inside games for the Skyhawks.
Ten different Skyhawks scored as they improved to an RMAC West Division-leading 6-1 record, 16-2 overall.
“We knew this was a big weekend for us," Rosel said after the Skyhawks completed the RMAC sweep over Colorado Christian and Colorado Mines.
“Everyone was so ready, so pumped," said Rosel, who also had a team-high four rebounds.
The Skyhawks gathered at midcourt after Saturday night's victory as Kellogg was honored for his 100th career win at FLC in just four-and-a-half years. Kellogg's career record at FLC is 100-36 overall and 65-18 in the RMAC. Coach Kellogg has averaged 22.2 wins a season and by the looks of it he'll be upping that average after this season.
“Like I told the team, this is a tribute to every kid who's played for us," Kellogg said. “It's a lot of work by a lot of players."
Box Score
dstrode@durangoherald.com
