Cavaliers' defense hampers Cardinals

COLDWATER - Heavy defensive pressure allowed Coldwater to dominate the first half in their 56-31 win over defeated New Bremen in MAC girls basketball action Thursday night at the Palace.

The Cavaliers (6-6, 2-2 MAC) used the full-court pressure to force 24 turnovers against New Bremen. The turnovers, along with a chilly 9-of-41 shooting effort (22 percent), spelled doom for the Cardinals.

"That was our point to definitely put the pressure on them because they are low in terms of numbers and manpower and we can play 10," Coldwater coach Connie May said. "We did a great job executing in the first half."

Coldwater started the game on a 7-0 run as New Bremen needed 96 seconds to get on the board with a pair of Alyse Clune free throws. The Cardinals were able to get a bit of a run going to cut it to 9-8 with 3:26 left in the first quarter before the Cavaliers rattled off 12 straight points as Brooke Welsch, Leah Homan, Sarah Kanney, Emma Homan and Erica Sudhoff scored points. Paige Jones snapped the run with a three-pointer with nine seconds left to give the Cavaliers at 21-11 lead.

"We knew coming in that's the tempo (Coldwater) wanted to play," New Bremen coach Chris Burden said. "We just kind of cracked. We didn't adjust very well. We covered everything this week for that (style of play). When you have a young team, they just cracked and I think that's what happened tonight."

The defensive pressure was turned up even more in the second quarter as the Cavaliers pitched a shutout in the period, outscoring the Cardinals 14-0 and forcing eight turnovers. New Bremen was 0-for-10 from the field in the quarter and Coldwater extended its lead to 35-11 at the half.

"We had some great looks for good shots. They just didn't fall for us," Burden said. "Give Coldwater credit for coming out and playing well and putting the pressure on us."

New Bremen refused to turn over, outscoring the Cavaliers 14-5 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 40-25, but the Cavaliers got a between-quarters talking-to from May and returned to form with a 16-5 fourth quarter run to end the game.

"I'm thrilled with the game except for the third quarter. We have to put four quarters together," May said.

Nine of the 10 Coldwater players scored on the night. Hannah Bruns made up for her scoreless night with a team-high 10 rebounds.

"We told her she might not have had her offensive game, but the job on the boards is what we needed," May said of Bruns.

Kanney led Coldwater with 13 points. Brooke Welsch finished with 12.

Clune's 13 led New Bremen (10-4, 2-2 MAC). Jones finished with eight.

Both teams have Saturday matinee home games. Coldwater hosts Elida and New Bremen hosts Auglaize County neighbor St. Marys.