Lehman remains undefeated after
15-6 advantage in final stanza
By MARC TOBIAS
mtobias@dailystandard.com
NEW BREMEN — Lehman was able to overcome a turnover prone
first half to knock off New Bremen, 47-39 and remain undefeated
in the young season.
The Cavaliers improve to 4-0 despite combining with New Bremen
for 34 first-half turnovers.
Neither squad could adjust to their opponents’ pressure
defense.
The Cardinals used a full-court press the first half, and with
the Cavaliers missing two senior guards because of a senior
trip, it was very effective.
One of the Cavalier guards that was missing was Hayley Hemm,
who’s averaging 13 points per contest early in the year
including a 24-point performance in the Cavs’ last game
against Botkins.
New Bremen, likewise, struggled as the Cavs switched their half-court
set with multiple zone and man-to-man defenses.
Both squads were able to settle down in the third quarter, but
Lehman was the only team to carry that offensive punch into
the fourth quarter as the Cavs outscored New Bremen 15-6 in
the final stanza.
The Cardinals led most of the game, and were up 34-29 in the
closing seconds of the third quarter, but that’s when
Lehman took control, as it went on a 15-2 run to put the game
away.
There were a number of reasons for the big run, improved rebounding
by the Cavaliers and a cold shooting Cardinals team, and of
course, the Cavs weren’t hurt by being in the bonus for
the last 7:30 of the fourth quarter.
“We talked to the kids at halftime how the key was going
to be rebounding,” said Lehman coach Dan Saunders. “We
need to box out and get them going over our backs and go to
the free-throw line. We have Hannah Scherger who’s an
outstanding free-throw shooter.”
Lehman outrebounded New Bremen 20-15 in the second half and
Scherger was able to make all six of her free-throw attempts,
including four in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter.
Scherger scored eight of the first 10 points in the fourth quarter
to put Lehman ahead, 41-34. She finished with 24 points and
10 rebounds.
The closest New Bremen got the rest of the way was five points
when Kacie Schmiesing hit a free throw to cut the Cavs lead,
44-39.
“They just outhustled and worked us in every phase of
the game, they were pretty physical and we didn’t respond,”
said New Bremen coach John Storrer. “We got pushed around
and we didn’t finish shots or make free throws. We didn’t
make shots from the field and they gave us good looks. “
The Cardinals had 20 more shots than Lehman, but connected on
just 22 percent (14-of-61) of those attempts.
Sarah Schmiesing was the only Cardinal to reach double figures,
as she scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds.
Storrer added his team needs to find a way to finish games strong,
as New Bremen led most of the first half and all of the third
quarter.
“We’re not mentally tough enough to hold those (leads)
right now, and with five seniors you’d think that’d
be one of the easy phases of the game. Get the lead and put
it away, but we haven’t been able to do that yet,”
Storrer said.
After 18 first-half turnovers, Lehman had just six in the final
two quarters.
“One thing we talked about was playing with a lot of heart
and desire, and once we got the lead in that fourth quarter
our defense and rebounding was the key to us coming back and
winning,” Saunders said.
Emilee Seger added nine points and five rebounds for Lehman
while Ashley Jacob added eight points and nine rebounds.
Kacie Schmiesing finished with five points and nine rebounds
for the Cardinals.
New Bremen is back in action Thursday at St. Henry.
|
