Lady Devils' defense fades in second half against Cougars
Monday, December 8, 2008 4:12 PM PST
By Rick McCorkle
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E-mail this articleWhen the shots aren’t falling, teams can usually depend on their defensive play to get them through the tough times until the offense returns.
The Lower Columbia College Lady Devils’ defense faltered in the second half of Saturday’s nonleague game with Clackamas at Truman Myklebust Gym, resulting in the Cougars rolling to an 85-73 victory.
The loss dropped LCC to 2-3 in nonleague play, while Clackamas improved to 6-1.
“We shouldn’t ever give up 85 points to anyone, and that’s the second time we’ve done that and I’m a little embarrassed,” LCC coach Chad Meadors said. “Giving up that many points isn’t what we set out to do because we take pride in our defense.”
The Devils’ defense held Clackamas to 41 percent shooting (14-34) in the first half, but the Cougars stepped up their offense in the final 20 minutes by making half of their 34 shots. Clackamas also grabbed 10 offensve rebounds in the second period, which were converted into eight points.
“We gave up too many offensive rebounds,” Meadors said. “We talked about doing a better job in the second half, but we didn’t do anything about it. Giving up the second shots was what really hurt us.”
LCC trailed 19-7 in the first eight minutes, but scored 13 of the next 18 points including consecutive layups from Allison Horazdovsky and Marla Olstedt, to cut the deficit to 24-20 with 4:50 before halftime. Prior to their run, the Lady Devils missed eight shots and had five turnovers as the Cougars scored 15 unanswered points including three 3-pointers.
“We shot poorly in the first half but played well defensively,” Meadors said. “We didn’t show up on defense in the second half. Even when you’re pressing to make a comeback you still play good defense. When things don’t go your way you can fall back on your defense, and we didn’t do that.”
Consecutive layups from Holly Weston and Jade Haas to start the second half allowed LCC to tie the game at 33-33 in the first 40 seconds, but eight unanswered points from Clackamas gave it a 41-33 lead with 16:30 left. LCC pecked away at its deficit and trailed 55-53 following a putback from Cassie Koering midway through the period, but would get no closer. Clackamas netted 15 of the next 20 points — including six at the free throw line — to take a 70-58 lead with 6:30 left.
The Lady Devils trailed 80-72 after Sadie Salte drilled a 3-ball from the left corner with 2:15 remaining, but the Cougars answered with a layup from Bryanna St. Paul and a trey from Shayla Fetters for an 85-72 advantage with 50 seconds left.
LCC made 4-of-21 shots from outside the arc (19 percent), and hit half of its 18 free throws, neither of which thrilled Meadors.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well from the three-point line or at the free throw line, but it all comes down to a lack of defensive discipline,” he said. “We had the game tied early in the second half and had them, but our shots weren’t falling.”
Salte led five LCC players with double-figure scoring with 15 points and seven rebounds. Olstedt added 12 points, six assists and three steals, Haas had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, Horazdovsky came off the bench for 12 points, and Weston added 10 points and five assists. Heidi Jackson also grabbed eight rebounds.
The Lady Devils are idle until Saturday, when they host Lane.
Cougars 85, Lady Devils 73
CLACKAMAS (85) — Rylee Peterson 21, Dayle Powell 17, Shayla Fetters 15, Brittany Duty 11, Bryanna St. Paul 9, Jill Niebergall 3, McKenzie Meyer 6, Melissa Fay 1, Erica Fillipetti 2.
LOWER COLUMBIA (73) — Sadie Salte 15, Marla Olstedt 12, Jade Haas 11, Holly Weston 10, Heidi Jackson 6, Allison Horazdovsky 12, Cassie Koering 4, Brittany Welch 0, Kasey Craft 3.
Halftime: ClCC 33, LCC 29.
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