Announcement
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| Shelbyville senior Caitlin Mills (15) shoots from the free-throw line while being defended by Lawrence Central's Shay Redd (12) and Kyla Thomas (14) during the first half of the consolation game of the Shelby Shootout Wednesday at William L. Garrett Gymnasium in Shelbyville. (Steve Bush photo) |
Shelbyville can't buy a basket in consolation loss to Lawrence Central
By Jeff Brown
Sports editor
Shelbyville's girls' basketball program served as gracious hosts for the 2010 Shelby Shootout.
One night after suffering a blowout loss at Rushville, the junior varsity dropped a pair of games Wednesday then watched the Lady Golden Bears struggle to score points against a quicker Lawrence Central squad and lose the tournament's consolation game, 46-27.
"This was not at all the shootout performance that we wanted but at the same time, it obviously exposed our weaknesses and what things we need to work," said Shelbyville coach Amanda Norris. "We're having a hard time putting the ball in the basket. Obviously that's going to affect us."
Shelbyville scored 22 points in a loss at Rushville Tuesday and couldn't buy a basket at Frank Barnes Court Wednesday. The Lady Golden Bears (4-9) hit just 6 of 38 attempts (16 percent) and were 1 of 9 from the 3-point line.
Shelbyville also committed 28 turnovers as it struggled with the visiting Bears speed and length.
"It's a tough matchup for us," said Norris. "We have true post players in Eryn Hopper, Chelsee Simerly, Ashley Bush and Kelsay Endahl. When we're going against a lineup that is all small and all quick it's hard to get our true posts active and in the game."
Bush was nearly the entire offense in the first half. The junior converted seven free-throw attempts and had 11 of her team's 12 points at the midway point. She finished with a game-high 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds.
"We've been really asking Bush to step up and start boxing out and staying on her feet on defense," said Norris. "She did that tonight. She really stepped up and was there for her team."
Content to shoot from long range, Lawrence Central took 20 first-quarter shots and built a 14-8 lead.
Shelbyville went scoreless for nearly 5-1/2 minutes to start the second quarter and Lawrence Central opened a 23-12 lead by halftime.
A 3-pointer by Bush early in the third quarter cut the deficit to nine but that's as close as Shelbyville would get. Lawrence Central maintained a 10-point lead after three quarters then used a 9-0 run early in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Taylor Sanders led Lawrence Central (4-6) with 13 points, four rebounds and four steals. Kacey Johnson came off the bench to score 12 points and grab nine rebounds. Shay Redd scored six points and had nine rebounds.
Only two other Golden Bears scored in the game. Chelsey Skipton had seven points and Caitlin Mills finished with six.
Norris hoped to use the tournament as a momentum-builder for the second-half of the season. Now, with the next game not until Jan. 8. at Hauser, it just might be time to take a few days off and clear the heads.
"We were wanting to practice here for a couple of days then take a couple of days off but I think it's time to give the girls a day or two off," said Norris. "Hopefully, we'll come back after the new year with a renewed sense of purpose."
In the junior varsity tournament played Wednesday at Shelbyville, Lawrence Central took home the title with a 43-26 win over Westfield in the semifinals, and a 40-23 win over Rushville in the championship.
The Lady Lions reached the finale with a 30-22 win over Shelbyville in the morning semifinal round.
Taylor Pierce led Shelbyville with nine points. Dakota Sharp had 12 points for Rushville.
In the consolation game, Westfield defeated Shelbyville, 33-26.
Pierce and Ashley Scudder led the Lady Golden Bears (6-6) with six points. Paige Fairfield led Westfield with 11 points.
One night after suffering a blowout loss at Rushville, the junior varsity dropped a pair of games Wednesday then watched the Lady Golden Bears struggle to score points against a quicker Lawrence Central squad and lose the tournament's consolation game, 46-27.
"This was not at all the shootout performance that we wanted but at the same time, it obviously exposed our weaknesses and what things we need to work," said Shelbyville coach Amanda Norris. "We're having a hard time putting the ball in the basket. Obviously that's going to affect us."
Shelbyville scored 22 points in a loss at Rushville Tuesday and couldn't buy a basket at Frank Barnes Court Wednesday. The Lady Golden Bears (4-9) hit just 6 of 38 attempts (16 percent) and were 1 of 9 from the 3-point line.
"It's a tough matchup for us," said Norris. "We have true post players in Eryn Hopper, Chelsee Simerly, Ashley Bush and Kelsay Endahl. When we're going against a lineup that is all small and all quick it's hard to get our true posts active and in the game."
Bush was nearly the entire offense in the first half. The junior converted seven free-throw attempts and had 11 of her team's 12 points at the midway point. She finished with a game-high 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds.
"We've been really asking Bush to step up and start boxing out and staying on her feet on defense," said Norris. "She did that tonight. She really stepped up and was there for her team."
Content to shoot from long range, Lawrence Central took 20 first-quarter shots and built a 14-8 lead.
Shelbyville went scoreless for nearly 5-1/2 minutes to start the second quarter and Lawrence Central opened a 23-12 lead by halftime.
A 3-pointer by Bush early in the third quarter cut the deficit to nine but that's as close as Shelbyville would get. Lawrence Central maintained a 10-point lead after three quarters then used a 9-0 run early in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Taylor Sanders led Lawrence Central (4-6) with 13 points, four rebounds and four steals. Kacey Johnson came off the bench to score 12 points and grab nine rebounds. Shay Redd scored six points and had nine rebounds.
Only two other Golden Bears scored in the game. Chelsey Skipton had seven points and Caitlin Mills finished with six.
Norris hoped to use the tournament as a momentum-builder for the second-half of the season. Now, with the next game not until Jan. 8. at Hauser, it just might be time to take a few days off and clear the heads.
"We were wanting to practice here for a couple of days then take a couple of days off but I think it's time to give the girls a day or two off," said Norris. "Hopefully, we'll come back after the new year with a renewed sense of purpose."
In the junior varsity tournament played Wednesday at Shelbyville, Lawrence Central took home the title with a 43-26 win over Westfield in the semifinals, and a 40-23 win over Rushville in the championship.
The Lady Lions reached the finale with a 30-22 win over Shelbyville in the morning semifinal round.
Taylor Pierce led Shelbyville with nine points. Dakota Sharp had 12 points for Rushville.
In the consolation game, Westfield defeated Shelbyville, 33-26.
Pierce and Ashley Scudder led the Lady Golden Bears (6-6) with six points. Paige Fairfield led Westfield with 11 points.
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