Story Photos
 (Photo by Greg Ebersole / The Daily News) LCC’s Jade Haas takes the ball up for a shot during first half action at Truman Myklebust Gym Saturday evening.
|
Last-second shot dooms Lady Devils
Sunday, December 14, 2008 2:54 PM PST
By Rick McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleFor the first 20 minutes of Saturday’s nonleague women’s basketball game with Lane, the Lower Columbia College Lady Devils played the best defense of their young season.
But for the first 10 minutes of the second half, it appeared LCC left its rock-solid defense in the locker room.
The Lady Devils (2-4) rallied from a 14-point deficit in the final six minutes, only to let fifth-ranked Lane (7-2) knock down the game-winning shot in the final two seconds as the Titans ran away with a 59-58 victory at Truman Myklebust Gym.
“Our transition defense was outstanding in the first half, but we didn’t seem to get back on defense for most of the second half,” LCC coach Chad Meadors said. “We started getting tired in the last part of the second half and didn’t play defense the way we wanted to.”
A big reason why Meadors’ troops ran out of gas late in the game was foul trouble. The Lady Devils picked up their 10th foul midway through second half as starters Heidi Jackson and Holly Weston were on the bench with four fouls apiece, starting guard Marla Olstedt was benched with three fouls, and starting post Sadie Salte was playing with three fouls.
In addition, freshman post Cassie Koering wasn’t in uniform because she was out of town attending the funeral of a family member.
“We were tired because of all the kids we had on the bench with foul trouble,” Meadors said. “We’re not making excuses because the girls have to do a better job getting back on defense.”
LCC led 22-21 at the break after holding the Titans to 27 percent shooting (9-33) in the first half. Most of Lane’s missed shots were layups because the Lady Devils’ defense in the paint made it difficult for the Titans to get up quality shots.
The Lady Devils tied the game at 34-34 with 12:50 left when Allison Horazdovsky converted a steal at halfcourt into a layup, but the LCC offense would go cold. Over the next 6:50, the home team offense consisted of a Jade Haas layup and a 3-ball from Kasey Craft, while Lane knocked down 19 points including a pair of treys for a 53-39 lead with six minutes left.
LCC’s offense came alive when Olstedt turned a steal into a layup, and Jackson came off the bench to drill a trey from the left side of the arc to cut the Devils’ deficit to 53-44 with 4:48 left. Lane called a timeout and moments later made two free throws for an 11-point lead, but a 3-ball from Horazdovsky, followed by two treys from Jackson cut the Titans’ lead to 55-53 with 2:10 left.
Jackson, who was held to a layup in the first half, finished with 11 points despite sitting on the bench for more than 21 minutes in foul trouble.
“When Heidi shook off her foul problems and calmed down, she was knocking down some big shots,” Meadors said. “We didn’t have her for most of the game, but it’s nice to see her get loose and hit those shots.”
LCC grabbed a 56-55 lead with 1:15 left when Salte canned a 3-ball from the right corner, and had a chance to pad its advantage moments later when Salte drove to the hoop for a layup that circled around the rim before popping out.
Lane snagged the rebound and hustled back to the other end, where Theresa Brown drove to the hoop for a layup and 57-56 lead with 23 seconds remaining. After a Lane timeout, the Devils set up their offense, which culminated with Haas hitting a layup with six seconds remaining for a 58-57 advantage.
The Titans quickly got the ball back to their end, and Carmen Williams knocked down a jumper from the free throw line three seconds later for a 59-58 lead. LCC inbounded the ball, but a fullcourt shot from Haas at the buzzer fell several feet short.
“Our offense caught fire a little too late,” Meadors said. “We had a chance to beat one of the best teams in the NWAACC, and we still have a long ways to improve. When we stick to our defense for 40 minutes, then we’ll be tough.”
LCC’s defense forced Lane into 29 turnovers which the Lady Devils converted into 26 points. Horazdovsky and Haas led LCC with 12 points apiece, with Salte adding 10. Haas also grabbed seven rebounds, dished four assists and made nine steals, Salte grabbed seven rebounds and made three steals, and Horazdovsky grabbed six rebounds. Craft also chipped in six assists.
The Lady Devils will compete in the NWAACC Crossover Tournament at Wenatchee beginning Friday through Sunday.
Titans 59, Lady Devils 58
LANE (59) — Sarah Brolsma-Whitefield 13, Carmen Williams 12, Kourtney Parks 8, Theresa Brown 8, Jennifer Kimbrow 6, Sheena Cole 6, Lynette Minthorn 3, Melissa Montes 3, Richan Modderman 0, Shimea Jordan 0.
LOWER COLUMBIA (58) — Jade Haas 12, Heidi Jackson 11, Sadie Salte 10, Holly Weston 6, Marla Olstedt 4, Allison Horazdovsky 12, Kasey Craft 3, Brittany Welch 0.
Halftime: LCC 22, Lane 21.
Past Month's Most Commented Stories