Lady Bulldogs Take Down the Pintos to Stop Three Game Skid
- RoMoAthletics
- Jan 24
- 4 min read
January 22nd, 2026
An already young Lady Bulldogs team was facing a steep learning curve to start the season, but after losing their All-State junior guard, Rylee Dodson for the year, the curve got a lot steeper.
That learning paid off for the Lady Bulldogs as they were able to embrace their adjusting style and bully the California Pintos in the paint on their way to a 64-41 victory to end their 3 game losing streak.
Finding Their Identity
One of the first comments Coach Charley Parker made after finding out about the injury to Dodson, was that his team would need to find their new identity. That identity is starting to take shape in the form of a balanced attack focused on paint touches and complimented with efficient outside shooting.
That approach worked for the first 3 quarters of their last game where they were tied with Republic entering the fourth quarter. A late push from the outside allowed Republic to pull away for the 45-38 victory. Keeping a team in the 40’s is a goal for Coach Parker, but for that to work, the offense has to get back to the 60+ point per game average they enjoyed with Dodson.
This game they did as 5’7” Fr guard Addy Deremo and 5' 10” So guard Madison Hutton started the Lady Bulldog with some 3 balls in the first quarter and Coach Parker couldn’t be happier. “We did a really good job on the offensive end executing our game plan, getting the ball where we wanted it on the inside, Addy and Madison starting the game hitting from deep opened up our inside play”
Controlling the Paint
It was a back and forth game during the opening period as the California Lady Pintos also hit 3 from downtown. Deremo had 2 3’s in the quarter for Rolla as they took a 1 point lead into the 2nd period.
The new look Lady Bulldogs made their appearance in the 2nd quarter as they exploded for 18 points while holding the Lady Pintos to only 4. That sealed the fate of the Pintos.
With the threat of the long ball fresh in the minds of California, the Lady Bulldogs were able to take advantage of their size and get to the paint. Using a mix of dribble drives, post feeds and basket cuts the Lady Bulldogs put pressure on the California defenders resulting in trips to the charity stripe.
The Lady Bulldogs went 6 for 7 from the free throw line in the quarter and 18 for 25 on the night shooting 72%. This has been an area of focus for the Lady Bulldogs and has hampered them in their losses. It was a balanced attack for the quarter with Hutton and 5’8” Sr guard Mariah Watkins each putting up 6 points, while 5' 10” Fr guard Bella Cambell added 5, and 5’5” Fr guard Grace Fontenot chapping in 1.
The Lady Bulldogs were able to extend their lead after halftime outsourcing the Lady Pintos 19 to 12. A 3 by Hutton and Watkins kept the defense on edge as Campbell punished them inside resulting in going 4 for 4 from the line.
Enjoying a 23 point lead, Coach Parker was able to get valuable minutes for members of his 14-0 JV squad as they closed out the game keeping that 23 point lead and securing the 64 to 41 victory.
The Wrap Up
While the Lady Bulldogs ate at the line, California only went to the line 5 times, knocking down 4. A guard heavy team, the Lady Pintos were not able to get the looks they wanted from the outside nor get the penetration against the Lady Bulldogs. “I thought we did a really good job of closing out on the shooters and containing their dribble drive,” said Parker.
Balance was the key word from the win. Three players in double figure points. Nine players scored. Four players with 5 or more rebounds. This is your new look Lady Bulldogs.
Cambell paced the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points going 7 for 7 from the line while pulling down 6 rebounds. Hutton finished with 14 points and 5 boards while Watkins had 13 and 6. 5’10” Fr forward Rylee Anderson finished with 5 points and 5 boards.
Reflecting back on the win, Coach Parker had a smile on his face. “It was nice to get that monkey off our back and get back into the win column, the girls did a really good job on both ends of the floor against a good California team, hopefully this will jump start us down the stretch”
Next Up
Monday January 26th at the 26th Annual Hermann Invitational Girls Basketball Tournament
Taking on New Haven (2-13) at 6pm at Hermann Middle School
They would next play either Liberty (Wentzville) or Owensville on Wednesday at 7:30pm
STATS Rolla 64, California 45
The individual scoring (FG-FT-TP):
Rolla (10-6): Martia 1-0-3, Hutton 4-4-14, Watkins 5-2-13, Fontenot 0-1-1, Northup 0-3-3, Deremo 2-0-6, Campbell 5-7-17, Hollis 1-0-2, Anderson 2-1-5
California (9-7): J. Lawson 1-0-3, Wood 2-0-6, Bestgen 2-0-4, K. Lawson 3-2-8, B.Milligan 1-0-3, Porter 1-0-2, Pinger 0-2-2, Em. Burger 1-0-2, H. Milligan 3-0-8, Hadley 1-0-3
The score by periods:
TEAM Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
Rolla 15 18 19 12 64
California 13 4 12 12 41
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