Web posted
Saturday, January 5, 2008
South Haven girls pull away late
By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
SOUTH HAVEN -- Sometimes a timeout is just what a team needs.
And it was an easy layup Lindsey Sims off a diagonal pass from the top of the key that got the attention of South Haven coach David Hughes, who then passed a strong message on to his team after its lead was cut to five points.
"That girl was open a long time," Hughes said. "And that's what I addressed about is covering. Then, we just switched defenses."
The Lady Cardinals heeded Hughes' words, going on a 23-7 run to take control of the game and earn a rather ugly 56-38 victory over Sedan on Friday night.
While South Haven improved to 5-1 with the win, Hughes was expecting his team to be sharper coming off the Christmas break.
"I thought we'd play harder," Hughes said. "On the perimeter, we played hard. Our post area, we're lazy. We're not boxing out. We're not pinning people. Defensively, we're just standing and letting the other team catch (the ball) and just fouling them."
South Haven led throughout, but Sedan came to as close as 24-19 after trailing by eight points at the half.
The Lady Cardinals had trouble finding the basket in the first half, as they missed numerous open looks.
South Haven also found its in foul trouble in the first half. Tina Clausen was relegated to the bench after committing her second personal foul exactly midway through the first quarter. Beth Davidson was whistled for her second foul two minutes into the second quarter, and the Lady Cardinals their seventh team foul less than two minutes later.
But the two constants that allowed the Lady Cardinals to grab a lead and maintain it was Breanna Bryant and their press defense.
Bryant recorded three of South Haven's four baskets in the first quarter. After connecting on a jumper, she recorded a steal on the ensuing possession and took it the other way for a 6-0 lead. She then closed out the quarter with a layup off an inbounds pass for an 8-2 lead. Bryant recorded 12 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
"Breanna, with her quickness and being able to anticipate where the ball is going to go...I think she tries to do too much," Hughes said. "The rest of the team is going to have to step up to where she doesn't have to."
South Haven's press limited Sedan to a Bailey LeGrand 11-foot jumper in the first quarter. The Lady Cardinals forced Sedan into committing 12 of its 30 turnovers in the quarter. LeGrand finished with 11 points and two rebounds.
Sedan attempted to keep themselves in the game with their free-throw shooting, but converted only six of 12 attempts in the first half.
"That darn sure helped keeping that spread at halftime," Hughes said. "Everybody on the floor has just got to work hard. We're just not getting it."
South Haven pulled away late in the third quarter, with Tricia Cook leading the way. She made a basket for a 29-21 lead. She then hit a jumper just inside the three-point line for a 36-23 lead.
Cook finished with 12 points and four rebounds.
"Tricia is a kid that's come a long way in the last several weeks," Hughes said. "She needs some more confidence. She needs to be a little more selective when she's passing the ball...but she plays hard and has been a good (player) for us."
Clausen also played a significant role during South Haven's run late in the third and early in the fourth quarter. She hit a three-pointer with two seconds remaining in the third and recorded the first two baskets of the fourth. She finished with 12 points and four assists.
Sedan 2 10 14 12 -- 38
South Haven 8 16 17 15 -- 56
Sedan -- LeGrand 11, Sims 8, M. Mullendore 6, K. Mullendore 5, Curran 5, Buck 4, Beeson 1.
South Haven -- Bryant 17, Tricia Cook 12, Clausen 12, Davidson 5, McConnell 4, Dvorak 4, Richards 2.
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