Rysavy’s triple-double lifts Athletics past Superlarks
Published 10:40 pm Friday, January 3, 2014
Lyle-Pacelli’s Ann Rysavy looks to pass the ball as Grand Meadow’s Jordyn Glynn dives after it during the first half Friday night in Lyle. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
LYLE — The Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball team hadn’t played in 12 days before Friday’s match-up with Grand Meadow and it showed early on.
Grand Meadow’s Rio Landers takes a pass inside during the first half Friday night against Lyle-Pacelli in Lyle. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The No. 5 ranked Athletics (7-0 overall, 7-0 SEC) took a little while to get going, but in the end they won their seventh straight game by at least 35 points when they topped the Superlarks 68-33.
LP senior Ann Rysavy gave her team a big boost early on as she led the team on a 20-2 run that broke open a game that was 9-8. Rysvay finished with a triple double as she tallied 20 points, 12 rebounds, 10 steals and three steals.
“I didn’t want to come out flat and I wasn’t going to let the energy go down,” Rysavy said. “I was going to play my hardest and I was hoping they would feed off it.”
LP struggled with its outside shots and it committed an 13 turnovers in the win, but it forced 33 Superlark turnovers to off-set all of its struggles. The team had Christmas break off, which sounded like a good idea, but Rysavy said it may have been better if the Athletics would’ve stayed in the gym.
“We had the week off for Christmas break and we were all pumped up, but honestly I think we should’ve practiced,” Rysavy said. “When you’re laying around it’s hard to come in and get going. Our biggest fear is coming in flat and playing like we did tonight.”
LP head coach Justin Morris wasn’t pleased with how his team started, but he was glad they picked up the win. Morris credited Rysavy with setting the tone early on.
“Ann Rysavy was the one kid that really came out and took the game over for a stretch there. She was all over the place,” Morris said. “Every time there was a scrum for a rebound or a loose ball, number thirteen was coming up with it, she shot the ball as good as anybody and she attacked the rim. That’s what a senior leader does.”
Lyle-Pacelli’s Courtney Walter goes for the ball with Grand Meadow’s Annika Arndorfer Friday night in Lyle during the first half. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Sarah Holtz also stepped up for LP as she finished with 17 points.
The Superlarks (3-6 overall, 3-3 SEC) had trouble controlling the ball and it didn’t help when their top guard, Rachel Oehlke, was in foul trouble most of the night before she eventually fouled out early in the second half.
“[Losing Rachel] really hurt us tonight,” GM head coach Lisa Glynn said. “Tonight was a really good opportunity for our girls to try some things. This is one of the best teams in our conference and the state and it’s a good chance for our kids to look at their intensity and see where we need to be in the years to come. We want a program like this.”
Rio Landers led the Larks with 17 points and seven rebounds.
GM 21 12 — 33
LP 44 24 — 68
LP scoring: Ann Rysavy, 20; Sarah Holtz, 17; Courtney Walter, 13; Kendal Truckenmiller, 6; Annie Holtz, 6; Madison Truckenmiller, 4; Maggie Lewison, 2; free throws: 71 percent (15-for-21); rebounds: 37 (Rysavy, 12); turnovers: 12
GM scoring: Rio Landers, 17; Allison Gehling, 6; Jamie Stevens, 6; Rachel Oehlke, 2; Jordyn Glynn, 1; Brittanie Winfield, 1; free throws: 36 percent (5-for-14); rebounds: 29; turnovers: 33
