Web posted
Saturday, February 2, 2008
AC girls overmatched by Salina Central
By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net
Sometimes a team's record can be misleading.
Case in point: Salina Central.
Salina Central entered Friday night's game just 2-11, but it played much better than what it record is -- and that's an understatement.
Salina Central dominated in all phases of last night's game and used a quick start to pull away with an easy 51-35 win over Arkansas City.
Trying to understand why Salina Central, 3-11 after last night's win, is still eight games below .500 needs only one explanation.
Salina Central plays in the ultra competitive AVCTL Division I -- where the Lady Mustangs compete against Hutchinson, Goddard and Derby, all state-ranked teams. And don't forget about Maize, who blasted Ark City 58-32 on Jan. 18.
"They're in a tough league," Ark City coach Bill Stinson said of Salina Central.
Salina Central, 0-5 in Division I play, lost by less than 10 points in each of its first regular season meetings against Hutchinson (49-45) and Derby (67-61) and by 10 points to Maize (49-39).
The Lady Mustangs didn't worry have to worry about being on the wrong side of another close game last night, as they jumped out to an early 15-5 lead and never looked back.
Ark City (4-10) was overmatched at every position, and Salina Central used its athleticism to scoring opportunities and featured a suffocating defense that forced the Bulldogs into taking quick shots.
Nikki Jordan scored her only points of the game on back-to-back jumpers to cut Salina Central's lead to 9-5.
But the Lady Mustangs unleashed a three-point barrage to take control. Kiersten Hancock, Emily Kinder and Cerissa McMillan each buried a three-pointer in the last 2:52 of the first quarter for an 18-9 Salina Central lead.
Kinder made three of Salina Central's six three-pointers in the first half.
"We knew that they were a three-point shooting team and just hoping they weren't going to come out on fire like they did," Stinson said.
Kinder was one of three Lady Mustangs who finished in double figures, with 11 points and two rebounds. Hancock had 14 and Stephanie Davison scored 10 of her team-high 15 points in the first half.
Despite each of the teams grabbing 21 rebounds, Davison as well as the rest of Salina Central's front court outworked Ark City on the glass, especially off missed jump shots in the first half. Davison alone had seven rebounds.
"The thing we talked about is that when you shoot three-pointers, there's going to a lot of long rebounds," Stinson said. "So, you have to be disciplined when you block out and chase the ball. Defensive rebounding hasn't been one of our strong points."
Salina Central continued to build on its lead in the second quarter.
After Natalie Benton brought Ark City to within 10 points on a layup, Kinder and Hancock delivered a serious blow to the Bulldogs, hitting back-to-back three pointers for a 16-point Salina Central lead.
Davison hit a turnaround jumper to give Salina Central its largest lead on the night, 38-13, with 2:21 remaining before intermission.
Ark City turned up the defensive pressure in the fourth quarter, using traps and a matchup zone defense to limit Salina Central to a Jarah Cooper jumper.
Natalie Stinson scored seven of her game-high 21 points in a fourth quarter in which Ark City outscored the Lady Mustangs 10-2.
But the damage had already been done, as Salina Central led 49-25 after three quarters.
Salina Central 18 20 11 2 -- 51
Ark City 11 9 5 10 -- 35
Salina Central -- Davison 15, Hancock, Kinder 11, McMillan 8.
Ark City -- Stinson 21, Benton 7, Jordan 4, Warren 3, Sturd 2.
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