By Drew Terhall
DailyAdvocate.com
VERSAILLES — In a bodily MAC recreation, the Versailles women basketball staff got here away with a convincing 55-44 win over Marion Native at dwelling on Dec. 9.
The Woman Tigers have been coming off a 47-57 loss at St. Henry on Dec. 7. Head coach Tracy White stated her staff was capable of deal with the short flip round and acquired themselves prepared for this convention matchup.
“Our women actually locked in, it’s a fast flip round. We needed to put together for every part St. Henry did after which modify to what Marion Native did taking part in two totally different types on the defensive finish particularly. I felt like the ladies locked in yesterday and at shoot round at the moment. They got here and performed as a staff for 4 quarters,” White stated.
It was a backwards and forwards first quarter. Each groups constructed up a small lead just for the opposite staff to take it away. Versailles got here away main 17-15 after the primary quarter.
Versailles was capable of maintain onto the lead for many of the second quarter. Finally, Marion Native tied the sport 23-23 with 3:30 left.
The Woman Flyers have been doing sufficient on offense to maintain tempo with the Woman Tigers. However with the clock winding right down to single digits, senior Jenna Dirksen hit a 3 to go up 30-26 at halftime.
Junior Grace Osborne was flying round within the first half. White stated Osborne can catch opposing gamers off guard together with her fast first step and has the vertical to go up and rack up the blocks.
From there, it was all Versailles within the second half. The Woman Tigers outscored Marion Native 15-5 within the third quarter and they didn’t enable a discipline objective.
White stated it’s laborious for any offense to attain towards a protection that’s clicking. The Woman Tigers have been taking part in a shut down protection within the third quarter.
“I assumed our defensive depth undoubtedly turned up a stage. We have been all speaking and if we had the assistance, we all the time had the drop with out the helper, we have been rotating. There was a pair possessions the place we had someone which may not have been on the identical web page however they figured it out inside the first couple passes,” White stated.
The offense stored doing its factor all through the sport. White stated the staff was capable of transfer the ball inside and out of doors with their guards and put up gamers. When Marion Native keyed on their inside recreation, they have been capable of make photographs on the surface. When the surface shot wasn’t there, the put up gamers have been capable of get a bucket down low.
Everybody stepped up for Versailles to get the win. White stated they stress assists, deflections, defensive rotations and expenses. She stated it’s these issues that may assist win a giant recreation like this. Everybody was capable of execute in these areas.
“I felt like we had so many individuals step up in numerous methods. I don’t suppose there was an individual that went on the ground that didn’t do one thing good. Our bench was in it as effectively, it was an throughout staff win,” White stated.
Even when Marion Native acquired the sport again right into a single digit deficit, Versailles held robust. They took care of the ball and made their free throws. The staff was 13 for 13 from the free throw line.
In addition they stored getting up and competing in a really bodily recreation. The Woman Tigers have been capable of battle by way of the powerful Marion Native press. White stated her ball handlers in Osborne, sophomore Katey Litten and senior Jenna Dirksen have been capable of get cross court docket and arrange the offense with out a lot stress.
“It was 4 quarters, begin to end, only a straight up battle. It’s the entire size of the court docket, the again court docket and the entrance court docket. I felt like we dealt with the strain quite a bit higher. Katey and Grace and a pair instances Jenna have been capable of carry the ball and never flip the ball over. It was large for us, get us into offensive units,” White stated.
Dirksen led the staff with 17 factors. White stated Dirksen is a 3 dimensional participant that was capable of get right into a groove early attacking the rim and hitting some photographs. That simply opened up the offense for everybody else.
Litten and junior Taylor Wagner each had 14 factors.
Versailles will journey to New Bremen on Dec. 14 for his or her subsequent recreation. Varsity is slated for a 7 p.m. begin.
Contact Each day Advocate sports activities editor Drew Terhall at [email protected]
Originally posted 2023-12-09 21:18:33.