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A
determined team of Logan Elm Lady Braves gave a strong Circleville team,
trying to end its most difficult week halfway through the season, all
they could handle Saturday at least through halftime.
After the break which saw LE leading 26-18, the Lady Tigers (11-2 and
8-0 in the Mid-State League) clawed back with a stifling defense to earn
a 47-33 victory at Logan Elm Saturday.
“Logan Elm got after us early and caused a lot of problems on offense
and defense,” said Circleville Coach Steve Kalinoski, who regrouped the
Lady Tigers at the half with several key strategic maneuvers.
Most effective was the use of a 1-3-1 half court trapping defense that
limited the Lady Braves (4-9 overall, 3-5 in the Mid-State League) to a
single foul shot in the third period and three baskets in the fourth.
Circleville jumped off to a quick start with Molly Highfill scoring from
under the basket on an entry pass from Casse Mogan and Emily Pontious
following with a short jumper on an assist from Katelyn Kalinoski to
give the Lady Tigers a 4-0 lead with 7:08 remaining in the opening
quarter.
But the Lady Braves, who didn’t launch a shot in the first two minutes
of the game, answered with a jumper by Andrea Anderson, a three-point
basket by Katie Hupp and an Anderson free throw to take a 6-4 lead with
4:38 remaining in the period.
Dava Betts tied the score about a minute later by netting two free
throws and gave the Lady Tigers their last lead of the first half by
converting a short jump shot following the steal of an LE in bounds pass
by Pontious with 3:11 remaining in the first quarter.
The Lady Braves closed out the quarter with a free throw by Alicia
Nichols and another three-pointer by Hupp with 1.8 seconds remaining to
claim a 10-8 first quarter lead.
Anderson continued the LE barrage in the second quarter with a quick
under the basket goal to extend the Braves lead to 12-8. She netted two
more baskets in the period, and Hupp closed out the scoring with another
three point goal with 17 seconds remaining in the half to give LE a
26-18 edge.
Circleville spent most of the second quarter on the foul line as
beneficiaries of the bonus free throw opportunity with 7:30 remaining in
the period. The Lady Braves committed their tenth foul with 3:50
remaining.
Mogan ended the second quarter with six points including four at the
charity stripe, and Highfill added four.
The halftime strategy paid quick dividends for the Lady Tigers.
Kalinoski took control of the Circleville offense, scoring all 13 of her
points in the second half and relieving some of the ball handling burden
from Mogan, who was hounded the entire game by Nichols and Lyenya
Riddle.
Mogan added eight second half points, six coming at the foul line.
But the story of the second half was the smothering Circleville defense,
which switched from man-to-man to a zone that shut down the LE outside
shooting of Anderson and Hupp.
Mogan was leading scorer for the Lady Tigers with 14 points including 10
from the foul line. She also was credited with seven steals.
Kalinoski scored 13 points and had three steals.
Highfill, who Coach Kalinoski said “played her best game ever,” finished
with eight points and three of Circleville’s 13 rebounds, Lacey Reedy
and Betts had four points each, and Elizabeth Scudder and Pontious, who
also had three rebounds, scored two each.
Circleville made 13 of its 31 shot attempts for a 42 percent night from
the field and converted 21 of 28 free throws.
The Lady Braves were paced by Anderson, who scored 11 of her 15 points
in the first half, and Hupp, who netted her three three-pointers for
nine points in the first half.
Amanda McDaniel, Lacey Eilliott, Katie Robinson and Nichols all scored
two points and Mallory Rittinger hit a free throw.
The Lady Braves were six of 12 from the free throw line. They were
whistled for 23 fouls compared to 15 for the Lady Tigers.
“We just came out flat in the second half,” said Coach Donna Peters. “We
started out very strong in the first half, but Circleville’s zone in the
second didn’t give us an opportunity to get the ball where we wanted
it.”
Circleville hosts Amanda Friday in a Mid-State League contest.
Logan Elm hosts Adena in a Tuesday game.
Circleville stayed unbeaten (13-0) with a 48-23 win over Logan Elm in
the junior varsity game.
The young Lady Tigers limited LE to two points in the first quarter, two
in the third and six in the final period.
Abbey Palmer paced Circleville with 11 points including a three-pointer,
Amanda Wade scored 10, Kellie Willis scored seven, Katie Howard scored
six, Megan White and Melissa Cydrus scored four each, and Jennifer
Farmer, Sami Mason and Grace Winner scored two each.
The young Lady Braves were paced by Alicia Salyers who scored eight
points including two three-pointers. Janie Waidelich scored five points,
Dakota Vansickle added four, Bethany Leist hit a three pointer and
Brittany Oberly and Kyla Pierce added one point each. |
