ELWOOD — When you’re dealing with a young roster, you expect highs and lows. For Elwood girls basketball coach Candice Williams, Friday night’s 53-49 victory over Liberty Christian provided both.
The good? A 17-0 run in the final 5 minutes, 3 seconds of the first half to seemingly take control with a 33-21 halftime lead.
The bad? Letting the visiting Lions gain confidence - thanks in large part to the play of Riley Ramsey - to make things very interesting late.
“It’s a win,” Williams said. “There were a lot of ups and downs. But for us to get the win, it feels good.”
With Sara Phillips’ putback basket giving the host Panthers (1-2) a 14-point advantage early in the third quarter, things looked bleak for Liberty Christian. Those hopes of pulling off a victory took another major hit when senior Karon Earley landed awkwardly on her right ankle with 6:42 left in the third quarter.
To that point, Earley had already grabbed 12 rebounds, serving as the Lions’ main threat on the boards. Earley departed to the locker room and did not return to action, giving Liberty coach Mike Carey even more concern about how his team would pull back into the contest.
Then again, he had Riley Ramsey to pick up the slack. The senior put the Lions (0-3) on her back, scoring 18 of her team-high 21 after Earley was sidelined. Ramsey’s play also served to inspire her teammates, Carey explained.
“We knew we were short three players, then one of our leaders goes down,” Carey said. “I just thought they showed me a lot of character, a lot of toughness.”
Elwood maintained its double-digit lead throughout most of the third quarter before a quick 10-0 Lion run cut the lead to 43-40. Ramsey keyed the run, assisting on a Brooke Vajner basket with 2:02 left in the third to start things off, then knocked down a jumper and a three-pointer to cap the spurt with 7:29 remaining.
“She’s a very nice player,” Williams said. “We were just trying to know where their shooters were, but we have five freshmen and no seniors, and all of this is new to them.”
The Lions would get no closer. With both teams struggling to knock down shots in the final quarter, Elwood’s distinct height advantage helped keep Liberty at bay. In all, the Panthers dominated the glass to the tune of a 52-28 rebounding edge. Phillips in particular proved too much to handle, pulling down a game-high 13 boards while leading all scorers with 23 points.
Still, Carey was pleased with the way his team continued to battle in the face of adversity.
“I’m just tickled to death,” Carey said. “I was really pleased with what they did. They just didn’t give up.”
Conversely, Williams explained that getting into the win column early in the season could go a very long way for her youthful squad.
“For us to win our third game in, I think it relaxes them and makes them feel good,” Williams said. “For us to get this win, it feels good.”
High School Sports
Panthers hold off Lions, 53-59
- High School Sports
-
-
Arabians still on rise
The Pendleton Heights boys basketball team is riding an 11-game winning streak and rose to No. 4 in the Class 4A state rankings Monday.
But, with the sectional set to begin exactly two weeks from today, coach Brian Hahn isn’t about to let the Arabians (18-2) get too comfortable. -
Wiles’ heart leads her to Hoosiers
Meghan Wiles took some time to explore her options, but she always kind of knew where she would end up.
She’s an IU girl.
Wiles, a Pendleton Heights senior, signed to play soccer at Indiana University on Feb. 1, the NCAA’s National Signing Day. Her parents, Tom and Mandy, both attended IU. -
Quintin Harlan: Wrestlers prep for state finals
Taking part in the Parade of Champions during the opening ceremonies of the IHSAA State Wrestling Finals is a thrill that stays with competitors and coaches for as long as they’ll remember.
For some, taking part in the ceremonial start for the state finals is the best memory. -
Anderson tankers ready for sectional
It has been a long time since the Anderson High School boys’ swim team last dipped its toes into competitive waters. Nearly a month, in fact. That will change when the team travels to Hamilton Southeastern for sectional preliminaries this Thursday.
-
George Bremer: Dunham tied to Arabians
Pendleton Heights senior Kellen Dunham is one of three players widely considered to be the front-runners for this season’s Indiana Mr. Basketball award. The other two — Hamilton Southeastern’s Gary Harris and Park Tudor’s Yogi Ferrell — were named last week as participants in this spring’s McDonald’s All-American Game. Dunham was left out. That doesn’t kill his chances to win the state’s most coveted individual honor, but it does inextricably tie those hopes to the Arabians’ postseason fortunes.
-
Two individuals, one team to bowling state finals
The high school bowling semistate held Saturday at Cooper’s Sport Bowl narrowed down the field of local bowlers, advancing only two individuals and one team to the state finals next weekend.
-
Rick Teverbaugh: Anderson's Carter small but her speed is deadly
There are sometimes very big reasons for a team to win a basketball game.
Sometimes, the reason is very small.
In the case of the Anderson Lady Tribe, they won the Greenfield Sectional championship Saturday night for a very small reason — a 5-foot-4 reason, to be exact. -
Arabians' Todd fulfills promise on mat
Pendleton Heights' Mason Todd improved his season record to 37-0 en route to winning the 120-pound title at the New Castle Fieldhouse. He will be one of four local wrestlers to participate in the Parade of Champions to kick off the 74th IHSAA Individual State Tournament on Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
-
Raiders run by Broncos
Daleville surprised almost everyone in Sectional 55 by hanging with Southern Wells (18-6) before bowing out 44-27 in the championship game Saturday at Wes-Del.
-
Lady Tribe captures sectional crown
Photos from the sectional championship between Anderson and Pendleton Heights on Saturday.
- More High School Sports Headlines
-
