Cardinals down Cavaliers 59-50

NEW BREMEN - An NBA shot clock would not have hindered New Bremen Thursday night.

The run-and-gun Cardinals launched 74 shots from the floor, crashed the boards 43 times and came away with a 59-50 Midwest Athletic Conference victory over Coldwater.

"From what we saw on film, we thought it would work to our advantage to go uptempo," New Bremen coach Chris Burden said. "With the quickness of our guards, we thought we could get out and go, and create some easy shots."

The Cardinals were eight of 23 from the floor in the first quarter, jumping out to a 21-11 lead after eight minutes.

However, turnovers began to take a toll in the second quarter and the Cavaliers came storming back. Kourtney Diller scored off back-to-back steals and Coldwater tied the game at 25 with 2:11 left in the first half.

But after going three minutes without scoring, New Bremen poured in eight unanswered points in the final 57 seconds of the half - including a three-pointer by Paige Jones at the buzzer - to regain control of the game.

"To come out and finish the half the way they did, I thought that was one of the keys to the game," Burden said. "We were able to use that momentum in the second half to expand the lead."

Jones and Debbie Paul combined for New Bremen's first 10 points of the second half as the Cards jumped out to a 43-29 advantage.

For Coldwater coach Connie May, the New Bremen tempo was not as nearly as deadly as the New Bremen rebounding. On one third quarter possession, the Cards had six shots at the hoop thanks to a handful of offensive rebounds.

"The rebounding, and the way that New Bremen went to the boards with the tenacity and intensity - that's what hurt us the most," May said. 

A couple times in the second half, New Bremen appeared to be on the verge of blowing the game open. Coldwater rallied each time but could not make it all the way back.

"Our lack of ability to finish is killing us," May said. "The fact that we were able to battle back is a positive. We'd close the gap, and then it would burst back open again. But we're young and inexperienced and just trying to figure some things out. We need to stay the course and keep working hard."

New Bremen came into the game with three players averaging in double-figures, and all three exceeded their average Thursday, led by Jones with 20 points. Paul had 16 points to go along with her 13 rebounds, while Alyse Clune came on strong at the end of the game and finished with 12 points.

"It's really a luxury to have three scorers, and they can pick each other up," Burden said. "I feel like anytime you can get three scorers in double figures, you're more than likely going to win the game."

Diller paced the Cavs with nine points. Danielle Welsch and Denise Schwieterman added eight each.

New Bremen improves to 11-3 overall with the win and, at 3-1 in the MAC, the Cards remain one game back in the loss column to Minster and Fort Recovery, who both remained unbeaten Thursday with MAC wins. New Bremen will travel to Minster next Thursday for a showdown with the Wildcats.

Coldwater falls to 4-7 overall and 1-3 in the MAC. The Cavaliers will be back in action Saturday afternoon at Lima Central Catholic.