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KELLER -- Watch a Keller girls basketball game and it's easy to realize there aren't many pages in the Indians' playbook.
Their repeated simplicity, however, wore down District 4-5A rival Richland and resulted in the Rebels' first district loss, 53-35.
Keller's offense is a basketball version of football's triple option. Players weave and cycle around the perimeter for what seems like ages until the opponent tires, allowing a drive to the basket or a backdoor pass to a streaking teammate.
In the big picture, Keller coach Doug Sporrer utilizes the offense in the same way most coaches use a full-court press -- to exhaust the opponent.
"A lot of teams talk about being relentless on defense; we talk about being relentless on offense and make people work and work and work," Sporrer said. "A lot of people press to do that and we try to run an offense to wear people out."
Friday, Richland's defense gave Jennifer Lutz plenty of wide-open 3-pointers, leading to her game-high 20 points. Except for two free throws made as time ran out, all of Lutz's points came from 3-point range.
On defense, Keller (16-10, 6-1 in District 4-5A) sits back in a 2-3 zone that appears very low-pressure. However, Keller players guard the passing lanes rather than the ball, which resulted in several Richland turnovers.
"It's something a little unorthodox, but the kids bought into it and we've been rolling with it and it's all we play," Sporrer said.
Keller's defense allowed Richland (18-6, 6-1 in District 4-5A) to score 11 points in the first, third and fourth quarters, and two in the second quarter.
Richland's top threat, Destiny Nunley, had 16 points and three blocks.
The win tied Keller with Richland for the district lead at the halfway point of the district schedule.
"I'll be honest, it's huge," Sporrer said of the victory. "We lost five starters last year, but these kids expect to win. I couldn't be happier with them right now."
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