Web posted
Saturday, February 16, 2008
McPherson pulls away from AC girls
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Photo by Mike Beauchamp
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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net
To be able to keep pace with McPherson, ranked No. 3 in Class 5A, Arkansas City coach Bill Stinson knew his had to be focused the entire 32 minutes of the game.
For just over one half on Friday evening, the Bulldogs were able to do that, as they matched McPherson's airtight defensive effort, possession-for-possession. That allowed Ark City to keep McPherson's explosive offense in check and stay within two possessions or even hold a lead during that span.
But it took only one lapse by Ark City to completely tilt the scales of Friday evening's game into McPherson favor.
Within a span of less than two minutes midway through the third quarter, Ark City lost its focus on the defensive end -- and the Bullpups took advantage, making two layups and recording a putback to take control.
McPherson turned what was a five-point lead into a quick double-digit advantage -- and the Bulldogs weren't able to get within single digits the rest of the way as the Bullpups outscored Ark City 40-20 in the second half.
Jordi James came off the bench to score 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half and Jill Nowak and Kelsie Sorenson added 13 points apiece to keep McPherson undefeated in AVCTL Division II play following a 59-39 win over Ark City.
"You can't have any lapses," Stinson said. "They're a good basketball team."
Following a disappointing 39-36 loss to Campus on Tuesday, in which Ark City blew a six-point fourth quarter lead, Stinson focused on the little things in practice over the last few days in an attempt help his team to break out of its four-game slide heading into Friday.
That emphasis was displayed by Ark City's efforts in the first 20 minutes of Friday's game.
While Natalie Benton gave the Bulldogs their only lead on the evening with a layup to open the game, their defense allowed them to stay within striking distance.
Neither team led by more than five points in a first half that featured 18 combined turnovers.
While James didn't get going offensively until the second half, she made an impact in other key areas.
Late in the first quarter, James jumped up in the air and batted a pass away by Kasha Hunt. James picked up the loose ball and passed it to Sorenson for a transition layup. James had three steals in the first half.
Ark City could've thrown in the towel after James gave McPherson a 19-14 lead just over midway through the first half.
But the Bulldogs didn't break.
Molly Warren hit a three-pointer and Benton then made an off-balance bank shot to tie the game at 19 heading into intermission.
"It was as good as we played (all season)," Stinson said. "We hung with them for a little over one half."
Benton nearly finished with a double-double, tying a season-high with 18 points and added eight rebounds.
Ark City (4-14, 2-7 AVCTL Division II) continued to match McPherson's efforts until the Bullpups took control midway through the third quarter.
Lacey Carlson gave McPherson its first double-digit lead, 36-25, on a transition layup off a nice touch pass by James.
The Bullpups then caught Ark City napping.
On the ensuing possession, McPherson used a halfcourt press to force the Bulldogs into committing a 10-second backcourt violation. Then, with Ark City not looking at the inbounds play, Sorenson was left wide open for layup for a 38-25 McPherson lead. That forced Stinson into burning one of his timeouts.
"We were caught meandering around," Stinson said. "They picked up their intensity and got us a couple of times. That's what good teams do."
McPherson (14-3, 7-0) padded its lead in the fourth quarter, en route to its fifth-straight win.
Allie Houghton gave the Bullpups a 53-32 lead with 3:16 remaining on a putback. Less than two minutes later, James worked a give-and-go with Carlson, who converted a layup.
"We couldn't match them basket-for-basket offensively," Stinson said.
McPherson 11 8 21 19 -- 59
Ark City 8 11 8 12 -- 39
McPherson -- James 19, Sorenson 13, Nowak 13, Carlson 10, Houghton 4, Wentling 2.
Ark City -- Benton 18, Stinson 7, Sturd 6, Warren 6, White 1, Jordan 1.
Above: Arkansas City sophomore Molly Warren, right, looks for an open teammate on Friday evening. Warren finished with six points on two three-pointers, but McPherson pulled away in the second half for a 59-39 win.
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