Lady Indians Smacked by Defending Champs
The Dighton Lady Hornets easily defeated the Lady Indians in the semi-final round of the NWKL Tournament in Oberlin on Friday, January 20. If the defending state champion's two outstanding seniors and host of complimentary personnel were not enough, the Lady Indians' numerous miscues certainly did not help. The Lady Indians scored five or less points in three of the four quarters enroute to a 16-57 loss.
The game begin with a technical foul on the Lady Indians due to a score book error. The Lady Hornets took a 5-0 lead on a post basket by Jordan Speer (5' 11" senior). St. Francis answered with a top-of-the-key trey by Lauren Johnson (assist Taighe Weeter). It would be the only basket of the period for the Lady Indians. As the Lady Indians' turnovers mounted (many unforced) the margin increased. Dighton's outstanding guard, Sara Cramer scored several first quarter baskets and created general havoc with her defensive skills. She also accounted for much of the Lady Hornets' offensive execution with her ball handling and passing skills. With two minutes left in the first period, the Lady Hornets earned a double-digit lead (13-3) on an offensive rebound basket by Gentry Shapland (5' 5" sophomore). Ella Roberts (5' 10" freshman) scored the final basket of the period from the post. St. Francis trailed 15-3 after one period of play.
The Lady Indians fared much better in the second period scoring 7 points and only allowing 11. After an opening basket by the Lady Hornets extending their 12-0 run, Karly Bandel scored for St. Francis. Two more quick baskets by the Hornets moved the scoreboard to 5-22. At 4:50, Taighe Weeter drained a trey after an assist by Zoe Sundstrom. Two more Dighton scores followed before Sundstrom sank consecutive free-throws to close the first half. St. Francis trailed 10-26.
It was all Dighton in the second half. The Lady Indians earned five points in the third period (two baskets by Reagan Beims and a free-throw by Madi Tice) while the Lady Hornets were nearly unstoppable. The Hornets added 26 points to their total in the period. St. Francis trailed 15-51 at the end of three quarters.
The final period was played with a running clock. The only points scored in the period were two post baskets and an offensive rebound stick-back; all by Dighton's Jordan Speer. St. Francis lost to a very strong Dighton team 16-57.
Dighton's do-it-all guard Sara Cramer led all scorers with 25 points. Jordan Speer added 14 to the Lady Hornets' point total. Ella Roberts chipped in 10. The Hornets made 9 of 13 from the stripe.
St. Francis received 4 from Reagan Beims, 3 from Taighe Weeter and Lauren Johnson, 2 from Karly Bandel and Zoe Sundstrom, and 1 from Hanna Bracelin and Madi Tice. The Lady Indians converted 4 of 7 at the line.
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