Rebels start slow in loss to Eagles

Published 11:17 pm Monday, December 19, 2016

ADAMS – The Southland girls basketball team struggled with ball control out of the gates and it was never able to recover as it lost 70-54 to Dover-Eyota in Adams Monday.

Southland’s Brianna Johnson fights for a loose balll with Brooke Wehseler of Dover-Eyota in Adams Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Southland’s Brianna Johnson fights for a loose balll with Brooke Wehseler of Dover-Eyota in Adams Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

The Eagles (5-2 overall, 4-1 Three Rivers) brought a lot of defensive pressure early on as they jumped out to a 22-4 lead to open the game. DE led by as many as 22 points in the first half.
“It was quite a struggle. You try to peck away at the lead and you try to get the girls to take it one possession at a time,” Southland head coach Dean Bendtsen said. “We’d have a good possession or two and then we’d do something bone headed again. When you’re down 20, you’ve got to have eight good possessions in a row.”
The Rebels (2-3 overall, 2-3 Three Rivers) pulled to within 46-33 when Kaysie Allen, who had 12 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, hit a jump shot with 14:40 left in the game. The Eagles responded with an 8-0 run over the next five minutes to put the game back out of reach.

Southland’s Allison Bottema reaches out for a rebound against Dover-Eyota’s Jordan Meyers in Adams Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Southland’s Allison Bottema reaches out for a rebound against Dover-Eyota’s Jordan Meyers in Adams Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

“The girls worked harder in the second half when we had our backs against the wall,” Bendtsen said. “I think we outplayed them in the second half, but we gave up way too many second chance points.”
McKendry Kennedy had 19 points in the loss for Southland, Gabby Smith had six points and 14 rebounds and Allison Bottema had two points and 12 rebounds.
DE  44  26  –  70
Southland 25  29  –  54
Southland scoring: McKendry Kennedy, 19; Kaysie Allen, 12; Gabby Smith, 6; Chelsey Kasel, 5; Brianna Johnson, 4; Lexi Smith, 3; Morgan Brown, 3; Allison Bottema, 2; free throws: 42 percent (5-for-12); rebounds: 51 (Smith, 14) turnovers: 25

Southland’s Gabby Smith shoots over Dover-Eyota’s Brooke Wehseler in Adams Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Southland’s Gabby Smith shoots over Dover-Eyota’s Brooke Wehseler in Adams Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

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