Lacking closure

The girls traveled all of about two miles from their practice gym tonight to take on the Illinois Lutheran girls' jv team at their place in Crete. Alyssa got her release from the doctor today, so the team was full strength for tonight's contest. However it wasn't enough as the Patriots faded late and dropped a close one, 22-17.

It was another typical start for our girls - in other words, very slow. Illinois Lutheran played a 1-2-2 defense which the girls had not seen nor practiced against. IL put a lot of pressure on the ball handler, which confused and flustered our girls. Thankfully, IL was not a strong offensive team. Kara hit a three in the quarter and the girls gave up eight, resulting in a 8-3 score at the end of one.

Andrew did some substituting in the second quarter, but the girls turned it around by playing more intense defense and hitting some outside shots. They still had trouble holding onto the ball as IL played aggressive defense throughout, but they held it long enough to put up some shots. Rachel hit a shot early, Kara hit a couple later and the Patriots scored seven straight and held a short-lived lead at 10-8. IL got a late basket for a tie score at halftime.

IL made some adjustments at halftime and jumped out to a 14-10 lead, but the Patriots, behind a three pointer and two free throws by Kara and a nice basket by Becca, pulled back into a tie at the end of three, 17-17.

Alas, the girls couldn't find the basket in the fourth. IL kept up the pressure, we turned it over a few times, put up some contested shots that weren't close and didn't score the whole quarter. Rachel fouled out and IL got a couple of inside shots and a free throw. Late full-court pressure wasn't effective, and the girls went down to their sixth defeat to go with one win.

Kara led in scoring with 13, while Becca and Rachel each had a basket. Becca had 11 rebounds and Rachel had 8. Kara, Rachel and Alyssa each had two assists. Kara had seven steals, and Alyssa and Becca each had a block. On the minus side, Kara and Alyssa each had seven turnovers.

We'll do it again tomorrow at Grace Baptist Academy in Kankakee at 5:00. Address is at the bottom of the page in the calendar. See you there.