After opening up the season with a five point loss to Warner Robins, the defending Georgia High School Association 7A girls basketball state champions, the Marietta Blue Devils, were back in action on Monday to kick off their annual Thanksgiving Showcase featuring several teams from around Georgia. The Blue Devils took to the court against Locust Grove, who came in at 1-0, and immediately put defensive pressure on the Wildcats, opening up on an 18-0 run.
Marietta’s smothering defense would continue to cause problems for Locust Grove as the Blue Devils would take a 53-12 lead into the locker room at the half and would go on to pick up a 77-16 win to even their record at 1-1 to start the season. Marietta’s Kayla Day would lead all players with 20 points. Following the win, Marietta head coach, Derrick DeWitt, said he was happy to see some “growth”.
“All we’re about right now is getting better each game, each possession. Building on some good habits, sharing the ball and selling into our new roles so I was excited to see more growth today,” DeWitt said of Monday’s win. With Lauren Walker and Ajia Smith having moved on to the next level of their academic and athletic careers, the Blue Devils do not have the size they possessed last season, so Coach DeWitt says their defensive intensity is an important element to their game this season.
“I don’t want our girls hesitating at all. So if we really get our rotations right, we really chart deflections, to manage our hustle and that’s one of our biggest defensive keys along with trying to rebiund the basketball being one of the under sized teams in the state,” DeWitt said. The Blue Devils will take on Valdosta on Tuesday in the showcase and close it out on Wednesday against Langston Hughes.