Keep hangin' on

CELINA - The second and third quarters of Monday's game might have been the best quarters the Celina girls basketball team have played all season.

The Bulldogs outscored Allen East 31-7 in the middle two quarters and led by as many as 23 points before the Mustangs came back to cut the margin to five. But Celina was able to hang on and secure a 43-38 win at the Fieldhouse.

"Five wins is big," said Celina coach Cenzie Rushton, referring to the win moving Celina to 5-12 on the season. "The last two years they won three (total) games. They're excited about it. They're hungry and want to get some more wins."

The Mustangs (11-4) got the lead early thanks to a 9-0 run to put them ahead 11-4 with just under three minutes remaining in the period. Celina came back as Emily Braun snapped Allen East's run with a bucket and then Maddy Luebke hit two free throws to cut the margin to 11-8 after one quarter.

The Bulldogs kept the momentum going. Makenna Klingshirn opened the second quarter with a bucket and then Braun put Celina in front to stay with 5:46 remaining in the half. Celina worked the ball around and had success driving to the hoop. Brooke Homan and Klingshirn both had success with the drive as Celina outscored Allen East 20-5 to take a 28-16 halftime lead. Celina was a perfect 10 of 10 from the foul line in the first half.

"We're starting to read defenses, making good decisions and running our (offense)," said Rushton. "At the start of the season, I felt we were rushing. Tonight we were patient and playing inside-out, which is how we need to play."

Celina opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run on baskets by Robbins and Luebke. The Mustangs were shutout for half of the quarter before Tori Newland scored with 3:40 remaining.

Two free throws by Luebke early in the fourth quarter gave Celina its largest lead at 41-18. Klingshirn later made it 43-20 with 6:35 remaining, which turned out to be the final points Celina scored in the contest as missed shots and turnovers allowed the Mustangs to stage a rally. Tori Newland, Kate Newland and Lakin Basham took control of the game as the margin of Celina's lead quickly began to diminish. Tori Newland's hoop-and-harm 3-point play got the Mustangs to within 10 points with 2:13 remaining. After a Basham bucket and a Celina turnover, Kate Newlan hit a 3-pointer to cut it to 43-38 with a minute to play. Celina twice missed front ends of one-and-bonuses to try and stop the run, but fortunately for Celina the Mustangs were unable to inch closer as the final horn sounded.

"We get rushed and when a team zone presses you, they want you to take quick mid-range jumpers and want you to turn it over. That's what we did," said Rushton. "We've got a lot to work on with the press and trapping this week. We haven't learned to win yet. We have to learn how to win and when you have a lead, how to play with (a lead)."

Klingshirn led Celina with 12 points. Robbins added 11 and Luebke had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Kate and Tori Newland each had 13 points for Allen East. Basham had eight of her 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Celina returns to the Fieldhouse on Thursday as Wapakoneta comes to town for a WBL contest.