Lady Timberwolves Extend Win Streak to 15 Games

SANDIA PARK – The East Mountain Lady Timberwolves keep rewriting the history books. With an edge-of-your-seat 40-36 home victory over the Sandia Prep Lady Sundevils, East Mountain also extended its winning streak to a mind boggling 15 games on Tuesday.

The win keeps the Lady Timberwolves perfect in District 5-3A play (6-0) and firmly entrenches them in the driver’s seat for the #1 seed as the post-season approaches.

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A Tale of Two Halves

The game was a defensive chess match from the tip-off. East Mountain held a narrow 11-10 lead after the first quarter, fueled by Evelyn Kannolt, who scored six of the team’s first 11 points. However, the Lady Sundevils found success from the perimeter in the second quarter, sending the teams into the locker room tied at 19-19.

Coach Ron Drake knew he had to adjust to Sandia Prep’s outside shooting.

“We changed our defense around,” Drake said. “We went to the ‘Blue,’ which is a 1-3-1, then we went to ‘Orange,’ which is a 2-3. In the first half, we kind of let them get into the corners and had some open threes. The girls picked it up in the third and fourth quarters.”

The tactical shift paid dividends. East Mountain’s length on the perimeter began to disrupt the Sundevils’ rhythm, allowing the Lady Timberwolves to reclaim a 34-29 lead by the end of the third.

Hushman and Cheney Step Up

While the team was shorthanded—missing five players total across the program due to illness and vacation—the stars on the floor rose to the occasion.

• Kate Hushman was the offensive catalyst in the second half, scoring 14 of her game-high 15 points after the break.
• Evelyn Kannolt finished with a strong 13 points, providing consistency when the offense stalled.
• Maya Cheney proved to be the X-factor in the paint, contributing 6 points on critical put-backs that demoralized the Sandia Prep defense.

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Chasing the Clock

The final minute was a masterclass in late-game execution. Leading by just two points with 41.7 seconds remaining, Coach Drake used a timeout to give his squad a simple directive: “Don’t shoot.”

“We’re telling them: good passes. Take care of the ball and we don’t need a shot,” Drake explained. “Not even a layup. Just pass the ball, take care of it, and put the pressure on them to foul.”

The Lady Timberwolves moved the ball with precision around the perimeter, forcing the Lady Sundevils to chase shadows as the clock expired. The 40-36 final score cemented what has become the “best turnaround in the state” after a shaky start back in November.

Looking Ahead

With the district title within reach, East Mountain (18-5) will briefly step away from league play for a non-district game. It’s a move Coach Drake welcomes to keep his players’ minds fresh.

“I like to have one [non-district] mix in there to get them out of that mode, thinking about the district all the time,” Drake said. “It lets them play a relaxed game mentally.”

After the break, the Lady Timberwolves will shift their focus to Cottonwood (Feb. 17, final home game) as they look to extend their historic 15-game streak even further, clinch the district title and get the No. 1 seed in the district tournament.