Watch a recording of the Lady Lancers’ 45-28 victory over SM West.
Girls Game Wrap Up
>>By Andrew McKittrick
The Lady Lancers beat the West Vikings on Friday Night for the second time this year with a score of, 45-28. The leading scorer for the Lancers was senior Caroline Dodd with 13 points.
The Lancers started the game off with extremely tough defense, beginning with the second Viking possession and carrying on into the second half the Lancers pressed Sophomore point guard Ali Smith. The press helped to trap and keep the Vikings from shooting any open jumpers.
With most of the offense in the first quarter coming from perimeter play by seniors Shannon McGinley and Caroline Nick, the Lancers had trouble producing points. McGinley was also able to put pressure on Smith throughout the game as she worked at the point. The score was back and forth for much of the first quarter with neither team being able to achieve a lead of more than three points.
During the second quarter, the Lancers were able to extend their lead. Their interior defense held strong and denied the Vikings from entering the lane. This strong defense lead to multiple turnovers and forced the Vikings to settle for several ten foot jump shots instead of easy lay ups.
The Lancers were able to continue their hot streak from the first half. They started off the third quarter of with a 5-0 run. This put the Lady Lancers ahead 30-15. The first half featured extremely tough and scrappy defense lead by McGinley and Smith for their teams but only two total fouls for the half. In the second half the tough defense continued however more fouls were called on both teams.
Throughout the rest of the game, the score continued to sway back and forth staying right around 15 points. The Lancers continued to get great ball movement and pressuring the Vikings to prevent the Vikings from entering into the lane.
The Lady Lancers were able to continue the four game win streak with this win. On Tuesday they will look to gain a win and build their momentum against Olathe Northwest at home.
Watch a recording of the Lancer’s 46-26 victory over SM West.
Boys Game Wrap Up
>>By Will Webber
In their first meeting of the season, SM West scraped out a win against East with the help of some sharpshooting and great rebounding. But all of that energy was absent on Friday night, as West found themselves on the receiving end of a Lancer beatdown.
Prior to the 2011-2012 season, the Varsity basketball seniors set several goals for the regular season. Two of their goals were at stake on Friday night: defeat every Shawnee Mission team and win the Sunflower League title. After a tough loss in their first meeting with SM West, this game was a must-win.
The Lancers took full advantage of West’s poor play with an excellent game plan. In an effort to improve shot selection, Coach Hair adjusted his strategy to be more oriented around set plays rather than forced jump shots. Junior Zach Schneider started the scoring attack for East with a couple of early three-pointers. Encouraged by Schneider’s solid play, the entire team began to shoot well. Senior Andy Hiett led the team on some key transition plays, but the team really gained momentum once junior Chase Hanna got hot. Hanna hit several three-pointers, including one which closed out the first half and quieted a brief offensive surge from West.
West experienced issues throughout the entire game. As a bigger, slower team, West primarily relies on offensive rebounds and points in the paint. However, the Vikings’ big men were out-rebounded all night by Schneider and junior Billy Sutherland. Senior Mitch Witter, one of the Vikings leading big men, rolled his ankle in practice on Thursday. Coach Brinsko started Witter in spite of his injury, but he proved to be ineffective and hesitant until he eventually left the game, hobbling off the court. In his first meeting with the Lancers, junior Jay Temaat picked apart the Lancer’s defense with his lights-out shooting, but he was cold all night on Friday. Temaat and the rest of the team settled for desperate shots and found little success.
After a great offensive first half, the Lancers turned up the defensive heat for the second. East’s defense, led by senior guards Andy Hiett, Alex Schoegler and Henry Simpson, held West to one point in the third quarter. These senior leaders had been plagued by turnovers in the previous meeting, but played an exceptional game with few to no errors this time around.
Most of the second half was played from the free throw line due to increased fouling from both teams. Coach Hair showed confidence in his team and gave playing time to many of his well-deserving players as his team winded down the 46-26 victory. As the Lancers enter the McPherson tournament, their goals are very much alive.
Related
Leave a Reply