Rockets coach Mark Yoder is happy that his team is 2-0 to begin the season.

“I mean you always want to get off to a good start.” he said “These first couple games, obviously, there’s going to be things that we know we’ve got to work on. They got highlighted today.

“We knew after our first game that we weren’t doing some things very well. We take care of that at practice, but that’s always why you want those non-conference games at the beginning of the year to get things worked out.”

Maplewood started with a 4-0 run to force the Cowboys (0-2) into an early timeout. The Rockets’ defense wouldn’t allow Chaney to score a single field goal during the first quarter as they carried a 14-2 advantage into the second period.

Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Cazhia Jackson of Chaney takes the ball down court before going for a layup on a fast break on Tuesday.

“Overall, defensively, I was kind of happy with the way we performed on that end of the floor,” Yoder said. “A couple times we did get beat off the dribble drive. I’m always concerned with that, but overall defensively I think we created a lot of turnovers and got some steals on that side of the floor. So, I was pretty happy defensively. Offensively, we’re still struggling. We’re just not shooting the ball very well right now.”

They’d continue to play well throughout the first half and carry a 26-10 lead into halftime.

After the intermission, Chaney began having more success on the offensive side of the ball, something that coach Kaneesha Ford wanted to emphasize to her team.

“Pretty much, flat out (told them), you have to want it more.” she said. “You have to want it more than anybody that you’re playing against. This is your court. You work hard. You put your sweat, your blood on this court. Show them how much you’ve been doing. Show them the work that you’ve actually put through to actually get better to make this program better.”

The Cowgirls would nearly double their amount of points they scored in the first half by the end of the third quarter, but they still trailed 37-19 going into the final leg of the game.

After dropping their first two games, Ford saw some things to build on with Chaney on being in the second year of their revived program.

“It can be very difficult, and with it being difficult, we just have to make sure we’re taking baby steps,” she said. “All the girls aren’t going to be able to learn everything right now. We can’t make them into MVPs and stars right now.

“But, gradually that’s what we’re going to get. Right now my main concern is to make sure that my team believes in themselves to be able to do it.”

Cazhia Jackson had a team-high nine points for the Cowboys, including two made 3s.

Marissa Ventura had a game-high 15 points for the Rockets, but she feels she could have done better.

“I missed a lot of shots, but it is what it is, and we got to come back next game,” she said. “I think we could make more shots, practice on shooting better, moving the ball more and making our open shots.”

Yoder emphasizes better shooting offensively for his whole team.

“That’s our point of emphasis every practice, every game, of every year, because there’s been quite a few years now that we haven’t shot the ball very well.

“I keep telling them, you don’t how to shoot a basketball when November rolls around. They have to get in the gym in the summer and the offseason, find a court outside, grab the ball, put your telephone down and get out and shoot. I don’t think the message gets through.”