The Adrian girls basketball team started the 2005 basketball season in fine fashion last week by claiming a couple of Red Rock Conference wins. On Thursday the Dragons traveled to Westbrook and defeated Westbrook-Walnut Grove 49-27. The following night Adrian again relied on their defense while defeating Red Rock Central 42-32. The two conference wins bring the Dragons’ conference record even at 4-4, while overall Adrian goes to 4-7. The Dragons’ next game will be tonight when they travel to Comfrey.Adrian 49, W-WG 27After allowing the Chargers to take an early 4-2 lead, the Dragons defense stepped it up and got things rolling for themselves. The defense led Adrian to a 16-7 first quarter lead. Three different Adrian players recorded four or more steals in the game. Emily Thier led all Dragons with a season-high five steals, while Kelly Banck and Brittany Bullerman made off with four steals each. Banck and Bullerman, along with Courtney Thier, led Adrian with four points each in the opening period.The Adrian defense got more stingy in the second quarter, allowing the host team only a last-second field goal. Meanwhile, the Dragons put up a 10 spot to give themselves a 26-9 halftime lead. A 16-4 Adrian advantage in the third period sealed the win for the Dragons. Banck again had the hot hand in the third quarter by scoring eight points.W-WG did win the fourth quarter 14-7, but it would not be enough to prevent the Dragons from winning their second consecutive game 49-27.From the floor Adrian netted 40 percent of its shots by making 24 field goals in 60 tries. The Chargers were held to just 12 field goals in 37 attempts for 32 percent. Neither team went to the free-throw line often with only 11 fouls called in the game. Adrian committed just five fouls to the Chargers’ six. W-WG made all three of its free-throw attempts. The Dragons shot a cool 25 percent, hitting only one free throw in four tries.Kelly Banck led the Adrian offense with 14 points. Junior Brittany Bullerman also reached double digits with 11 counters. Other Dragons to reach the scoring column were Kayla Bullerman with eight points, the two Thiers, Emily and Courtney, with six points each, and Amber Loosbrock and Kelsey Tjepkes with a fieldgoal apiece. The Dragons held a 31-28 rebounding advantage with Banck, Loosbrock, and Tjepkes all grabbing five caroms each. Courtney Thier, Brittany Bullerman, and Kayla Bullerman all recorded four rebounds. As a team, Adrian had 15 offensive rebounds and 16 on the defensive end.For the game the Dragons committed only seven turnovers while forcing their opponent into 20 miscues. Adrian recorded a season high 19 steals. Emily Thier and Kelly Banck led the winners in assists with four each.Box Scores:J Bullerman:0-0-0/0=0, E Thier:3-0-0/0=0, K Tjepkes:1-0-0/0=2, K Banck:7-0-0/0=14, N Lynn:0-0-0/0=0, K Thier:0-0-0/0=0, S Lynn:0-0-0/0=0, J Reisdorfer:0-0-0/0=0, C Thier:3-0-0/0=6, K Bullerman:4-0-0/0=8, N Runia:0-0-0/0=0, B Bullerman:5-0-1/2=11, A Loosbrock:1-0-0/2=2Adrian 42, RRC 32Avenging an early-season loss to the Falcons, the Dragons got a career best from senior Amber Loosbrock in beating the Falcons of Red Rock Central 42-32. Loosbrock would record her first ever double-double by scoring a season high 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.After falling behind 5-2, Adrian went on an 8-2 run to finish the quarter holding a 10-7 lead. It would be a lead they would never relinquish. Kayla Bullerman got the Dragons going by scoring four opening period points. Adrian padded its lead in the second stanza by going 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. The Dragons finished with 16 quarter points, while holding the visitors to single digits (8 points) for the second consecutive period. The inside strength of Loosbrock and Brittany Bullerman led Adrian to their 11-point halftime lead, as they scored six and five points respectively.The Dragons started the second half with a 4-0 run to open up a 15-point lead; however, the Falcons responded with a 7-2 run to cut the Adrian lead to 32-22 heading into the final period. RRC finally reached double digit quarter points by scoring 10 points in the final eight minutes, but the Dragons were able to maintain their 10-point lead by netting eight of 12 free throws.Both teams scored 25 points from the field with neither team shooting well. Adrian made 12 of 43 shots for 28 percent, while its opponent netted 11 field goals in 47 tries for 23 percent. The Dragons won the game on the free-throw line where they shot 74 percent making 17 free throws in 23 trips. RRC hit 7 of 15 free throws for 47 percent.On her way to her game-leading 12 points, Loosbrock would go perfect from the free-throw line, making six of six. Kelly Banck also reached double digit points for the Dragons, scoring 11 points. The Bullermans, Brittany and Kayla, scored nine and eight points respectively. The Dragons also got an important two points from sophomore Kelsey Tjepkes.Adrian controlled the boards by out-rebounding the Falcons 36-24. Brittany Bullerman and Kayla each grabbed eight caroms. Point guard Emily Thier made off with six rebounds.The Dragons forced RRC into 12 turnovers, while committing 14 of their own. Banck led Adrian with 4 assists, Thier and Kayla Bullerman chipped in with three assists apiece. Box Scores: J Bulleman 0-0-0/0=0, E Thier: 0-0-0/0=0, K Tjepkes 1-0-0/0=2,K Banck 2-1-4/7=11, N Lynn: 0-0-0/0=0, K Thier 0-0-0/0=0, S Lynn:0-0-0/0=0, J Reisdorfer 0-0-0/0=0, C Thier:0-0-0/0=0, K Bullerman 2-0-4/6=8, N Runia 0-0-0/0=0, B Bullerman 3-0-3/4=9, A Loosbrock 3-0-6/6=12