2/5/2010 1:00:00 AM
Lady Knights handle Bluffton squad, 57-31
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| Drew Bittner/Times Bulletin
Cresview’s Jessica Burger (24) closely defends Bluffton’s Sarah Stratton (21) during a game on Thursday, February 4, in Convoy. |
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BY DREW BITTNER
Times Bulletin Sports Editor
sports@timesbulletin.com
CONVOY - Even without starter Madison Preston, the Crestview Lady Knights easily dispatched another Northwest Conference foe on Thursday, dropping the visiting Bluffton squad, 57-31.
Don't look now, but Crestview, a team that was expected to be in a rebuilding year after losing so many key players from last season, now stands at 13-3 on the year and is now 6-1 in NWC play. Only Delphos Jefferson remains undefeated in NWC play, as Columbus Grove fell to 6-1 on Thursday with a loss to Ada.
The Lady Pirates, who entered the contest 3-3 in league play and fourth in the NWC standings, never really stood a chance.
Crestview put the game's first two points on the scoreboard on a bucket by Jo Thompson, but Bluffton's Molly Lengyel tied things up with two points of her own shortly after. That marked the only tie in the game and the Lady Knights never trailed.
Crestview scored eight of the final nine points of the first quarter and led after one, 10-3.
Jessica Burger opened the second quarter with a pair of free throws and, after Bluffton's Taylor Wenger knocked down two free tosses of her own, Crestview went on another run, scoring seven straight points and extending the lead to 19-5.
The Lady Pirates did put together a strong stretch to close out the first half, putting eight more points on the board before the break, but still trailing 25-13 at halftime.
In the early third quarter, Bluffton pulled within ten points at 27-17, had grabbed solid momentum, and appeared to be ready to make a push to tighten the game up.
However, after Crestview coach Greg Rickard called a timeout to regroup his team, the Lady Knights stepped back on the court and put Bluffton away.
"We got Jo back at the point and then she did some penetrating and dishing to our post," explained Rickard. "She just drew two or three people to her and we were able to get some open shots for other players. And our lead went from 10 to 17 just like that."
Crestview only allowed two Bluffton free throws the rest of the third quarter, while putting up 12 more points of their own, including seven points by Burger, and taking a 39-19 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Thanks to eight points by Sami Harrod in the fourth quarter, Bluffton was able to rack up their highest-scoring quarter of the game with 12 points.
Crestview, led by seven Jessica Gamble points, did the same, scoring 18 points in the final stanza as they extended their lead to 26 points by the final buzzer, 57-31.
"Defensively, I thought we were a little slow in the first half and I wasn't happy with our rotation," said Rickard. "But I thought it got better the second half. [Bluffton] hit some outside shots in the second half, but I'd rather them hit those than the two-footers. We took the inside game away there. And offensively, our shooting percentage was a little higher in the second half than in the first half. We shot better in the second half there."
Up next for the Lady Knights will be Celina, who was 9-6 overall entering Thursday's action and 4-2 in the Western Buckeye League.
"It will be a good one," agreed Rickard. "I've seen them and talked to some other coaches and that should be a pretty good game. It will be a good road test for us right before tournament. We have Celina, then we are at Columbus Grove, and then at Wayne Trace the following Monday. The next three games will be good for us. We'd rather have that right before the end of the year for tournament to get ready for the road tournament games."
Burger led all scorers on the night with 18 points. Crestview had three other players in double figures, as well, in Gamble (12), Danica Hicks (12), and Thompson (11).
Harrod led Bluffton with 12 points.
As stated, Crestview is now 13-3 on the season and 6-1 in the NWC. Bluffton falls to 4-13 and 3-4 in the league.
The Crestview junior varsity also won on Thursday, 30-23, giving junior varsity coach Trent Kreischer his 100th win.
Score by quarter
Bluffton 3 10 6 12 - 31
Crestview 10 15 14 18 - 57
Bluffton (31)
Welch 0 1-2 1, Guagenti 0 2-2 2, Stratton 1 1-2 3, Lengyel 2 0-2 4, Harrod 5 0-0 12, Wenger 1 4-4 6, Palte 0 0-0 0, Flynn 1 0-0 2, A .Lugibihl 0 0-0 0, Hall 0 1-2 1. Totals 10 9-14 31.
Crestview (57)
Etzler 0 0-0 0, Thompson 4 3-4 11, J. Gamble 4 2-2 12, K. Gamble 0 0-1 0, Burger 5 5-6 18, Richard 1 2-4 4, Hicks 6 0-0 12, Ca. Mefferd 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 12-17 57.
3-point shooting
Bluffton 2 (Harrod 2), Crestview 5 (Burger 3, J. Gamble 2).
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