The varsity girls picked up coach Steve Emert’s first-ever Oakland Activities Association white division win last week.
Thanks to a smothering defensive performance, Oxford went on the road and defeated Farmington Hills Harrison 34-23 on Jan. 5.
Entering the second quarter down by four, the Lady Wildcats stepped up the defensive pressure and limited Harrison to just two points in the quarter.
The game was tied at 13 at halftime.
Oxford only managed five points in the third quarter, but thanks to their defense, found themselves up by two, 18-16, entering the final quarter.
Finally, Oxford found their shooting touch and outscored the Hawks 16-7 in the fourth.
‘It was a defensive game the first two quarters, which is what kept us in the ballgame,? Emert said. ‘We played pretty good defense. We just got to settle down and execute on the offensive end…we’re getting the opportunities, we just have to learn how to finish.?
Junior Miranda Murphy led Oxford with 11 points. Senior Michelle Gilmore added 10 points and junior Shelby Davis added eight points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats.
‘We needed that. It was good for us to be in a tight ballgame and we just kept executing and we broke it open,? Emert said. ‘The team effort was extremely important. You can’t play team defense unless everyone buys into that program, and that is what they are doing.?
Emert said he can definitely begin to see the confidence growing in his girls through the way they handle the execution on the court and their swagger.
With the win, Oxford improves to 3-6 overall, and 1-2 in the OAA white division.
‘Even though Lake Orion is on top, they are undefeated in the white division, I still think two or three losses can win that division,? Emert said. ‘It’s still a wide open race, and I feel were still in it.?