Web posted
Monday, January 28, 2008
AC girls take sixth at Wildcat Classic
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Photo by David Wolman
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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
MULVANE -- Saturday's game was only six minutes old, but Arkansas City coach Bill Stinson had already needed to get the attention of his team twice.
Stinson had to burn two timeouts within a three-minute span -- the first following a three-point play by Katie Van Allen and second after Monica Schoenecker was left wide-open for an easy putback -- to get his defense in order.
Whether it was the afternoon start or Clearwater's efforts on both ends of the court that attributed to Ark City's slow start, Stinson knew that he had to say something to get his team focused.
Even with Stinson's encouragement, the Bulldogs could never recover from the early deficit they buried themselves in.
Ark City used a mini-surge to come within single digits early in the second half, but Clearwater cast aside any further thoughts of a comeback by the Bulldogs and came to life in a big way to turn what was a close game into a 62-43 rout in the fifth place game of the Wildcat Classic.
Clearwater wanted to set the tone with its press defense -- and it pushed the buttons at the right times.
After Natalie Benton converted a three-point play to give Ark City its only lead of the game, 3-1, just over 1 1/2 minutes in, Clearwater went to its press and used that build a quick double-digit lead.
The Indians never looked back, using a 22-9 run to close out a first quarter Ark City (3-9) would soon like to forget.
Clearwater's press forced the Bulldogs into committing seven of their 18 turnovers in the first quarter.
Ark City had trouble getting the ball past mid-court several times, before turning it over.
"We're getting the ball to the second level, but we just can't do anything," Stinson said. "They had all three people up, so we should've had a 3-on-2 break. We went and turned it over twice. Instead of getting a layup, we're turning it over."
On the offensive end, the Bulldogs gave the Indians open looks all over the floor. Clearwater's solid passing caused Ark City's defense to be forced out of position, setting up the Indians with easy scoring opportunities.
Clearwater quickly built a double-digit lead, 13-3, when Katie Reitberger capped a 12-0 run with an open layup off a nice dish from Danielle Becker. Monica Schoenecker gave the Indians their biggest lead of the quarter, 23-10, on a pair of free throws.
Stinson attributed his team's breakdowns in the first quarter, especially on the offensive end, to a lack of executing fundamentals.
"It's not blocking out. That and they were dribbling around us," he said. "It's the same thing we've been working on, but we're just not getting it done."
To make matters worse, the Bulldogs were already whistled for their seventh team foul of the half before Schoenecker sank her free throws with 18.7 seconds left in the first quarter.
Schoenker tormented Ark City in the first quarter, scoring seven of her team-high 15 points. She nearly finished with a double-double, pulling down nine rebounds.
"We just didn't defend her very well at the post," Stinson said. "We're just standing (around)."
Schoenker was one of three Indians in double figures. Melanie Brockleman finished with 14 points and three rebounds. Jordan Mills added 12 points.
After Mills scored five straight points midway through the second quarter, including a stutter-step layup for a 16-point Indians lead, Ark City finally settled in.
Natalie Stinson capped off a 6-0 run with a pair of free throws to cut Clearwater's lead to 10 with 1:09 left in the second.
After trailing 33-20 at intermission, the Bulldogs opened the third on a 7-2 run. Benton and Stinson did the damage. Benton connected on two layups and Stinson stole the ball at mid-court and converted a three-point play to cut Clearwater's lead to 35-27 just 1 1/2 minutes into the second half.
Benton (17 points, five rebounds) and Stinson (16 points) combined to score 33 of Ark City's 43 points. Benton's 17-point effort was a season-high, eclipsing her previous mark of 12.
But Clearwater then turned to what had worked so well for them on the defensive end in the first half: its press defense.
"Things were going better, but then two more possessions, (Clearwater's lead) gets back to 13. We just couldn't do anything," Bill Stinson said.
And the rout was on in the fourth quarter.
Becker stole a pass on an inbounds play by Ark City and ran down the sideline, converting a conventional three-point play. Tricia Vogel then gave Clearwater its largest lead, 60-35, on a free throw just 3 1/2 minutes later.
Clearwater 23 10 15 14 -- 62
Ark City 12 8 12 9 -- 43
Clearwater -- Schoenecker 15, Brockleman 14, Mills 12, Reitberger 4, Hoover 4, Voegel 3, Becker 3, Van Allen 3, Widler 2, Shinn 2.
Ark City -- Benton 17, Stinson 16, Sturd 4, Jordan 4, Godfrey 2.
Above: Arkansas City senior Val White, top right, is pressured by Clearwater's Monica Schoenecker (25) on a shot attempt during Saturday's fifth-place game of the Wildcat Classic in Mulvane.
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