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
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Bearcats upend AHS
Often basketball is a simple game, and it was certainly true for the Anderson boys basketball team here Thursday night. “We had too many turnovers — that’s the game,” said AHS coach Joe Nadaline after the Indians lost to Muncie Central 54-46 for their eighth straight defeat.
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Bulldogs topple Raiders, win 9th in a row
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PHHS shoots down Fishers
It can be easy to take Kellen Dunham for granted. But the Pendleton Heights senior reminded everyone why he is a Mr. Basketball candidate with a furious fourth quarter Thursday night against Fishers. Dunham scored 15 of his game-high 32 points in the final eight minutes, connected on all 10 of his free-throw attempts during the period and drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key early in the frame that sent the fifth-ranked Arabians on their way to a 53-42 victory.
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Frankton subdues Liberty
Youth was on display Thursday night in Frankton as the host Eagles squared off against the Liberty Christian Lions boys basketball team. Neither team had a senior start the game, and Frankton proved to be the more seasoned team in a 68-59 win.
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Indians fall to Bearcats 54-46
Photos from Anderson as the Indians hosted the Muncie Central Bearcats.
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Five for fighting
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Red-hot Lapel limiting miscues
Like any basketball coach, Jimmie Howell knows how important it is for a team to be playing its best basketball as the state tournament draws near.
But what’s going on in Lapel might be redefining that theory.
With a 60-42 win on the road over Class 3A No. 6 Guerin Catholic on Saturday, the Bulldogs pushed their winning streak to eight games. Over the 32-minute course of the game against the Golden Eagles, Lapel committed a microscopic four turnovers. -
PH moves on
On the roster of every successful team is a player or two who will do the unpleasant work. The ones who actually find satisfaction in this pursuit are worth their weight in wins to any coach. Pendleton Heights sophomore Kiawna Cottrell was just that player Tuesday as the Arabians advanced to the second round of sectional play with a 55-45 victory over Greenfield-Central.
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Indians slay Spartans
The last time these two girls basketball teams met on Jan. 17, Anderson defeated Connersville 83-74 in overtime. Lady Tribe coach Chad Cook knew the Spartans would come out with a chip on their shoulder ready for revenge in Tuesday’s opening round of the Class 4A sectional.
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Eagles eke by Raiders
Back in November, the Frankton girls basketball team handled Shenandoah by 29 points. Tuesday’s sectional opener at Shenandoah wasn’t as easy, but the end result was the same as Frankton moved on with a 44-43 win over the host Shenandoah Raiders.
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