2/5/2010 1:00:00 AM
Wapakoneta narrowly avoids Van Wert's upset bid, 46-39; Boys Double Digit Dribblers
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| Tina Eley/Times Bulletin
Van Wert’s Erika Jones (20) drives around a Wapakoneta defender during a game on Thursday, February 4, in Van Wert. |
| | Boys Double Digit Dribblers | This weekly segment will track the area's top points per game averages. Girls scoring leaders will run on Thursdays, with boys scoring leaders running on Fridays. For more statistics check www.ohiolockerroom.com. (Statistics for games through February 3.)
Player School Games Played Average
Jake Bagley Van Wert 13 13.3
Nate Webb Delphos St. John's 13 12.5
Corey Clifton Van Wert 13 12.4
Derrick Baksa Wayne Trace 13 12.1
Craig Carder Delphos Jefferson 14 11.9
Logan Bonifas Delphos Jefferson 14 11.1
Ryan Ebbeskotte Delphos Jefferson 14 10.8
Scott Recker Delphos St. John's 13 10.8
Jeremy Morris Lincolnview 15 10.7
Anthony Simpson Lincolnview 15 10.7
Ryan Steinbrunner Parkway 16 10.7
Steven Rickard Crestview 13 10.4
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BY JIM COX
Times Bulletin Correspondent
sports@timesbulletin.com
VAN WERT - Wapakoneta came into Thursday's game at Van Wert with Western Buckeye League Player of the Year candidate Heidi Schlegel, 6-3 post player Morgan Quellhorst, and only one game out of first place in the WBL. Van Wert was coming off of a lopsided Tuesday loss to a struggling Lima Central Catholic team, so this game looked to be a mismatch. It wasn't. Only a 4-for-6 free throw performance in the last minute allowed the Lady Redskins to escape with a 46-39 win.
Wapakoneta is now 10-6 overall and 5-2 in the WBL. Van Wert is 5-11 and 2-4.
"There was a huge difference (from the LCC game) tonight," said Van Wert coach Destri Long. "The girls bounced back and they played with great heart. They played together as a team. Our bench was supportive. We had great fan support. The girls bounced back better than we expected to be honest. As far as moral victories you can't fault them for the way they played tonight."
Midway through the third quarter Wapak seemed to be on the verge of breaking the game open - 34-22 with 3:40 showing on the clock. Van Wert senior Nikki Young then drained her second trey of the quarter to cut the lead to nine. After Schlegel cashed in one of two freebies, Van Wert's Alex Morrow rammed in a 10-foot running banker, and Nikki Morrow hit two free throws to make it 35-29 after three.
The Cougs extended that run from 4-0 to 9-0 to start the fourth period, via a Molly Gamble three from straight out and two Alex Morrow foul shots - 35-34, Redskins, with 6:28 left in the game. Wapak's Erica Bryan was fouled on a put-back and made both free throws, but Alex Morrow trumped that with a 17-foot baseline jumper - 37-36, Wapakoneta, at 5:39.
Schlegel took charge, nailing a 10-foot turnaround jumper, then grabbing a defensive rebound and taking it the distance for an old-fashioned 3-point play - 42-36 with 4:06 left. Nikki Morrow came right back with a three from the left wing to cut it to 42-39 at the 2:17 mark.
In the last two minutes, though, Van Wert misfired on all five field goal tries and was forced to foul. For the Redskins, Nicole Brown hit 1 of 2 and Bryan 3 of 4 freebies to seal the win.
"A little frustration, a little fatigue set in at the end," said Long. "We have to work on pressure situations. We hadn't been in this position yet where we're that close. We have some great material to work with in practice the next few days. Just keeping their minds positive, keeping the confidence, being optimistic. If they believe they can stay with a team, that they can compete, that's the biggest part of the battle."
The Cougars started the game strong. Young drove the lane, was fouled, and hit both free throws. Quellhorst countered that with a put-back to tie it at 2-2, but Young powered her way inside to draw another foul and hit 1 of 2 foul shots. Quellhorst put back another one to give the visitors the lead at 5-4. Nikki Morrow scored off of a Young assist, but missed the and-one. However, Gamble rebounded the missed free throw and stuck it back - 7-4, Cougs, at the 3:42 mark. Wapak then ran off nine unanswered points to lead 13-7 after one. Nine Van Wert turnovers in the first eight minutes did not bode well for the home team, but turnovers were not a major problem after that. Neither was Quellhorst, who got into foul trouble and played only sparingly thereafter.
Wapak led at the half 28-19, but Van Wert was able to hang around despite getting off only nine field goal attempts (hitting five) in the first 16 minutes while the Redskins were firing it up 26 times (hitting 12). The Cougs partially made up for that deficiency by hitting 9 of 13 free throws while Wapak was hitting only 3 of 6.
Young started the third period by swishing a trey from the right wing to cut the lead to 28-22, but Wapak ran off six in a row on fielders by Bryan, Schlegel and Quellhorst to stretch the lead to 34-22.
The only significant statistical difference in the game was turnovers - 20 for Van Wert, 11 for Wapakoneta. Rebounds were even - 24 apiece. The Redskins had a field goal shooting edge - 39 percent (17 of 44) to 37 percent (11 of 30). The Cougs were more accurate from the stripe - 76 percent (13 of 17) to 65 percent (11 of 17).
Nikki Morrow, Alex Morrow and Young led Van Wert scoring with 13, 11 and 9. For Wapakoneta the Youngstown State-bound Schlegel gave a lesson in inside offense and ended up with 16 points, while Bryan added 11.
"We didn't make it easy for her (Schlegel), which was our goal," said Long. "She's just a great player, a great overall player. She works hard and gets good shots. You just can't stop her without fouling her, and we didn't want to get the girls in foul trouble tonight."
The Wapak jayvees are now 15-1 after a 29-14 win over the Cougars. Van Wert (3-13) was led in scoring by Livia Butler with four. Karmyn Schneider led a balanced Lady Redskin attack with six.
Score by quarters:
Van Wert 7 12 10 10 - 39
Wapakoneta 13 15 7 11 - 46
Van Wert (39)
Morrow 3 5-6 11, N. Morrow 4 4-5 13, Jones 0 1-2 1, Young 2 3-4 9, Gamble 2 0-0 5, Keber 0 0-0 0, Kohn 0 0-0 0, Klinker 0 0-0 0, Mohr 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 13-17 39.
Wapakoneta (46)
Bryan 3 5-8 11, Brown 1 1-2 4, Snider 2 1-1 5, Schlegel 6 4-6 16, Quellhorst 3 0-0 6, A. Knippen 2 0-0 4, C. Knippen 0 0-0 0, Helmstetter 0 0-0 0, Schneider 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 11-17 46.
3-point field goals:
Van Wert 4 (Young 2, N. Morrow, Gamble), Wapakoneta 1 (Brown).
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