Athletics step on defense, but struggle on offense in loss to Bulldogs
Published 12:02 am Wednesday, January 25, 2017
- Lyle-Pacelli’s Olivia Christianson pulls up off the fastbreak against Plainview-Elgin-Millville Tuesday night at Pacelli. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball team was equal to the task on the defensive end of the court, but it struggled on the offensive end as it lost to Plainview-Elgin-Millville 44-38 in Pacelli Gym Tuesday.
The No. 7 ranked Athletics (11-3 overall) got as close as 34-33 when Kristi Fett scored inside with 7:21 left in the game, but LP had just one field goal over the next seven minutes as PEM (13-2 overall), which is ranked No. 4 in Class AA, pulled away.
LP had made at least six three-pointers in every game this season, but it hit just four threes in Tuesday’s loss, which was the third loss to a ranked team by the Athletics this season.
“We’ve got to make shots. I felt really good about our game plan. I thought we executed our game plan perfectly and we got good looks,” LP head coach Justin Morris said. “The kids have to get in the gym on the off days and not just during practice. They’ve got a chance to be special and they’ve got to choose to be special.”
Brooke Walter had 12 points, three assists, three rebounds and three steals for LP and Fett had 10 points, 11 rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists. The 38 points scored by the Bulldogs was their second lowest total of their season.
Lyle-Pacelli’s Brooke Walter drives against Plainview-Elgin-Millville’s Morgan Shindelar during the first half Tuesday night at Pacelli. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“Defensively, Kristi was unbelievable,” Morris said. “[PEM’s Emmaline Polson] is a Division II post player who is going to Minnesota State and Kristi really dominated the paint. Our rotations were good defensively and we communicated.”
While LP’s defense thrived and forced 20 turnovers, it had a season-low point total and it committed 16 turnover of its own. The Athletics had trouble getting to the lane in the half court set.
“They were really physical. That’s the most physical team we’ve played all year and we couldn’t get past their defenders,” Morris said. “We didn’t set good screen angles and you don’t get away with that against PEM.”
LP took an early 13-11 lead after a three-pointer by Walter, but it was never able to get ahead again the rest of the way.
PEM 24 20 — 44
LP 19 19 — 38
LP scoring: Brooke Walter, 12; Kristi Fett, 10; Bethany Strouf, 7; Olivia Christianson, 6; Abby Bollingberg, 3; free throws: 66 percent (6-for-9); rebounds: 37 (Fett, 11); turnovers: 16
Lyle-Pacelli’s Abigail Bollingberg works inside during the first half against Plainville-Elgin-Millville Tuesday night in Pacelli. Eric johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
