Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball team picks up its play in Grand Meadow
Published 11:29 pm Monday, February 15, 2016
Lyle-Pacelli’s Abby Bollingberg goes up for a lay-up in Grand Meadow Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
GRAND MEADOW —With just one week left in the regular season, the Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball team is starting to find its sense of urgency.
Lyle-Pacelli’s Courtney Walter handles the ball against Grand Meadow in Lyle Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
The Athletics led from start to finish as they beat Grand Meadow 68-39 on the road Monday.
The Superlarks have been a tough matchup for the Athletics in the past couple of seasons, but LP was able to win big on Monday without forcing a lot of turnovers and getting out in the open court.
“I think right now they realize it’s time to go,” LP head coach Justin Morris said. “This is the time last year we really turned it on and it feels very similar to how we were playing last year.”
LP (22-3 overall, 17-0 SEC) did most of its damage with its half court offense due to the consistent play of its backcourt. Senior Courtney Walter finished with 18 points, five assists, five rebounds and two steals as she knocked down six three-pointers and sophomore Brooke Walter tallied 15 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals as she hit three three-pointers.
“We were definitely up. With the playoffs being so close, we knew we had to take an extra step to be where we need to be for the playoffs,” Courtney said. “We’re getting prepared mentally and physically.”
LP’s offense always thrives when it is able to rack up steals and get out and run, but on Monday it forced just 10 turnovers. The Athletics did their damage inside and outside as senior forward Sarah Holtz added 14 points and sophomore center Kristi Fett had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Grand Meadow’s Skylar Cotten passes the ball agaisnt Lyle-Pacelli in GM Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“I think we need to manage the game,” Brooke said. “When we can’t force turnovers, we have to play in the half court and play our game.”
LP has now won 10 games in a row and the last nine wins have all been by at least 20 points. Morris said the team’s key to success has been unselfish play and a strong effort on the defensive end of the court.
“We’ve been moving the ball real well, we’ve been really patient and we’ve been giving up good shots for themselves to get great shots for their teammates,” Morris said. “To have patience is huge when you have as many weapons as we have.”
GM (16-9 overall, 12-5 SEC) was led by Rio Landers, who had eight points.
LP 38 30 — 68
GM 25 14 — 39
LP scoring: Courtney Walter, 18; Brooke Walter, 15; Sarah Holtz, 14; Kristi Fett, 13; Kendal Truckenmiller, 4; Lucy Nelson, 2; Bethany Strouf, 1; Abby Bollingberg, 1; free throws: 82 percent (9-for-11); rebounds: 33 (Fett, 8); turnovers: 9
GM scoring: Rio Landers, 8; Riley Queensland, 7; Jordyn Glynn, 6; Kaitlyn Hilton, 6; Isabelle Olson, 5; Annika Arndorfer, 3; Masie Voigt, 2; Hattie Voigt, 2; rebounds: 22 (Glynn, 7); free throws: 86 percent (12-for-14); turnovers: 10
