Freeze Watch issued April 23 at 10:06PM EDT until April 25 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 31 possible.
* WHERE...Portions of central and west central Ohio.
* WHEN...From late Wednesday night through Thursday morning.
* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

Tuesday, December 11th, 2012

Cardinals turn up defensive pressure to defeat Botkins

By Gary R. Rasberry

Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

New Bremen's Haley Moeller, right, shoots over Botkins' Casie Bergman during Monday's game at Cardinal Gymnasium. Moeller scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the Cardinals' 39-26 victory.

NEW BREMEN - The New Bremen girls' basketball team got out to a strong start and did not let up as the Cardinals defeated Botkins 39-26 on Monday night at Cardinal Gymnasium.

The Trojans (4-2) scored the first basket of the game, but the Cardinals (2-4) quickly took control with a 10-0 run as Meagan Brandt and Kyla Otting each hit three-pointers to highlight the spurt. New Bremen's fullcourt pressure defense forced eight Botkins turnovers in the first quarter.

"We just switched our defenses around every so often," said Cardinals' coach Chris Burden. "Sometimes when you do that, they (Botkins) get out of rhythm. We started out in our diamond press, back into our 2-3 (zone) and mixed in a man-to-man and 1-3-1 in there. ... Switching the defenses was the key."

"I wish I knew," said Botkins' coach Don Mack when asked what New Bremen did to hinder his team. "They had a hand in every passing lane, a hand in every deflection and took us out of everything we wanted to do. We didn't respond. We just sat back and let them get a hand on (the ball), push us around. Whatever they wanted to do, they did it."

The Cardinals kept things rolling in the second quarter by building a 15-point lead at 20-5 with four minutes left to play in the first half. New Bremen did not allow Botkins to get any closer than 10 points in the second half and the Cardinals were up by as much as 16 points in the final two quarters.

"Credit our kids' defensive effort," said Burden. "We have defensive goals we want to achieve. The girls know those goals and we were able to take pride in our defense and get the job done tonight."

Botkins shot just 7-of-38 from the field (18.4 percent) and were outrebounded 38-26.

"That's one of the five things we try to get in a game," said Burden of dominating the rebounds. "If we limit (the opponent) to one shot at the basket, I feel we'll be successful. In return, we were able to run down the floor and score some easy buckets."

Haley Moeller had a dominating night on the boards, pulling down 12 to go along with her game-high 13 points. Otting added nine points.

Logan Pitts was 7-of-10 from the foul line and paced Botkins with 11 points.

New Bremen returns to Midwest Athletic Conference action on Thursday, traveling to Rockford to face Parkway.

Archive of December 11th, 2012

Buy this E-Edition

Additional online stories on this date

Holocaust survivor: forgive but never forget

William Meyer talks of faith, bravery at St. Henry High School

ST. HENRY - William Meyer witnessed unspeakable atrocities at the age many modern American children receive their first cellular phones.

He was 11 when Gestapo officers arrested him outside the clockmaker shop of his neighbor, Corrie ten Boom, a Jewish sympathizer. [More]

Thrift stores seeing more customers

Patrons switch to buying essential items

While the bad economy has been good for sales at stores featuring used inventory, the greater change has been in what shoppers are buying.

"We have [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Sidewalk rule getting second look

CELINA - Some city council members are having second thoughts about allowing downtown businesses to put up sidewalk obstructions such as fences and advertising signs.

Water rates may jump 34%

ST. MARYS - Water rates need to be raised as quickly as possible to offset funding deficits, city officials say.

City council members on Monday heard first reading of an emergency resolution that would raise water rates for St. Marys residents by 34 percent in two years.

New treasurer begins

MARIA STEIN - Treasurer Paul Gagel called the roll for the last time Monday night at the board of education meeting.

Gagel, who is retiring effecti

Facilities to receive solar power

Coldwater

COLDWATER - Coldwater village council members on Monday approved legislation allowing the village to enter into an agreement with Miamisburg-based Solar Power and Light LLC to have solar panels installed near the wastewater treatment facility and village offices on Sycamore Street.

Council starts passage of $41.5 million budget

2013 appropriations higher than 2012

CELINA - With only one regular meeting scheduled for December, city council members on Monday night heard 20 pieces of legislation.

The centerpiece of the agenda was first reading of the 2013 budget.

Council moves toward pay raises

ST. HENRY - Village council members on Monday heard the second of three readings to grant village employees an average 2 1/2 percent raise beginning in January.

Celina man sentenced in Van Wert

A Celina man was sentenced recently in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court in connection with a drug-related incident.

Kyle E. Bourelle, 29, 632 Grove St., Celina, received a 9-month prison term after pleading guilty to abusing harmful intoxicants, a fifth-degree felony.

Lady Lakers have started the season with 3-3 record

CELINA - Having a whole new team this year has Wright State University-Lake Campus women's basketball head coach Nikki Mescher joking that she feels like Kentucky men's basketball head coach John Calipari.