By MARC TOBIAS
mtobias@dailystandard.com
ROCKFORD — Parkway was within moments of picking up its
second consecutive win, but Botkins battled back with a strong
fourth quarter to nip the Panthers 46-44 at Panther Gymnasium.
The Lady Trojans increased their defensive intensity late and
used a 15-7 fourth quarter rally to secure the win.
“We had that refuse-to-lose attitude,” said Botkins
coach Tony Rogers “I told them call yourself the comeback
kids if you have to, it was an ugly win, but it was a win and
that’s what is important.”
Parkway, which led almost the entire night, just wasn’t
able to get into an offensive flow the final five minutes.
“They’re fighting, they’re playing hard, and
they’ve put themselves in a position to win four games
now, and I told them at least you’re there, but now we
have to find that confidence,” said Parkway coach Jeff
Marbaugh. “Hopefully we’re playing two- and four-point
games all year long, and we figure out what play we need to
make and we make the right decision.”
Late in the third quarter it looked as if Parkway might be able
to run away with the win, the Panthers got two straight baskets
from Erica Yoder, the second set up by an Amanda Jutte steal
to go ahead 35-27.
Immediately after that, Cassie Steinbrunner picked up her fourth
foul and Emily Snyder her third to put the Panthers’ big
people in foul trouble.
With the middle softened a little bit, Botkins was able to get
some penetration against the Panthers zone that wasn’t
there in the first half.
“We went with a weave against their 1-2-2 and it actually
opened up some penetration and drives,” Rogers said. “We
weren’t attacking the zone early in the game, we were
just kind of standing around. I think that was one of the key
things that we did in the fourth quarter.”
Tara Dietz hit a basket to cut the Panthers lead to 37-33, and
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then hit four consecutive free throws to tie the game.
Parkway went on a mini spurt and a Snyder jump shot put the
Panthers up four, but a basket by the Lady Trojans Emily Cooper
cut it to two, and a big 3-pointer by Miriam Egbert put Botkins
on top. It was the Lady Trojans’ first lead since 13-11
in the second quarter.
Dietz split a pair of free throws with 14.9 left for the 46-44
lead, to give Parkway one last shot.
Amy Harner, who had eight points for Parkway, dribbled into
the lane but her shot was off the mark. Steinbrunner got the
offensive rebound, but her foot was on the end line and Parkway
had narrowly missed a game tying basket.
“We’re wanting to win so badly we worry about what
play to make, its a confidence thing but we’ll get through,
the kids are working hard at it,” Marbaugh said.
Dietz led Botkins with 15 points, as she hit 7-of-9 from the
foul line.
Snyder led the Panthers with 12 points and and eight rebounds
while Amanda Jutte added eight points and four rebounds.
Parkway returns to action next Thursday when they travel to
New Knoxville in both squads Midwest Athletic Conference opener.
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