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Sluggish Comets top Mustangs MYRTLE POINT -- Crater's girls basketball team was left with a problem to solve following Saturday night's game against Hidden Valley, but it wasn't in how to tame the Mustangs. After yet another slow start, the Comets circled the wagons to put things out of reach in the second quarter in routing Hidden Valley, 73-30, at the Myrtle Point Invitational. Crater (7-1) could only muster a 15-10 lead on Hidden Valley heading into the second quarter, but used its defensive intensity in surging to a 40-19 halftime advantage. "They played us tough the first quarter," Crater coach David Heard said of the Mustangs (3-3). "They came out and played hard and we played our typical first quarter. Our first quarter has been a struggle all season and I don't know why yet." Fortunately for the Comets, overcoming their slow start has also been a trademark this season. Sophomore Amy Denson scored eight of her 11 points in the second quarter and sophomore Sarah Yager nailed 3-pointers on three straight possessions for Crater in the third quarter to help pad the Comet cushion. Yager finished with a team-high 15 points, while junior Jody McLeod added 14. Crater's chief weapon against Hidden Valley proved to be it's defensive pressure, with the Comets forcing 38 Mustang turnovers. "I think defensively we have been doing a good job once we recognize what we're supposed to be doing and where we're supposed to be," said Heard. "It's been taking us about a quarter to figure out what to do defensively." Crater will have a week to prepare for its next contest, with the Comets taking on Colony High of Palmer, Alaska in the talent-filled 16-team Westview Tournament in Portland. Colony won the Alaskan state championship two years ago, and is led by 6-foot-3 post Jessica Moore, who has already signed to play at Connecticut. Crater and Colony face off Monday, Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. The winner earns the right to face Westview in the second round. CRATER (73) -- Yager 15, Chase 6, Hemphill 4, Pool 4, Sapienza 6, McLeod 14, Wiersma 5, Hall 4, Nafie 4, Denson 11, Johnson 0. Totals: 28-61 11-16 73. HIDDEN VALLEY (30) -- Wicks 4, Merrill 3, Davis 1, Grosse 0, Gannon 1, Brown 6, Bain 11, Whalely 4, Thompson 0. Totals: 10-35 10-24 30. Crater ...............15 25 17 16 -- 73 Hidden Valley ........10 9 6 5 -- 30 3-point goals -- Crater 6 (Yager 3, Chase 2, Wiersma 1). Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.