No two ways around it – it was a tough week for the Boone Central/Newman Grove girls basketball team.
The Lady Cardinals faced some of the stiffest competition Class C can offer – two defending state champions who began 2013 rated #1 and #2 in their respective classes – and needed a win over Central City sandwiched in between to remain above .500 at 3-2.
Boone Central/Newman Grove made the long trek north to Crofton Tuesday, Dec. 10, and had an even longer bus ride home after the C2 #1 Warriors delivered a 66-24 thumping.
Crofton gained momentum with a spurt late in the opening period, then used a sustained 20-3 run in the second quarter to take control of the game and lead 34-10 at halftime.
BC/NG bounced back Thursday at home, holding off a late Central City rally attempt to defeat the Bison 56-50.
Trailing 16-11 after one period of play, the Lady Cards turned up the fullcourt pressure and used a suffocating zone in the halfcourt to blank the visitors 17-0 in the second quarter.
Central City trimmed a 14-point Cardinal advantage to four with a 12-2 run that carried into the final minute of play, but Jade Gottier calmly dropped 9-of-10 fourth-period free throws to secure the win for BC/NG.
Boone Central/Newman Grove returned to the road and Mid-State Conference play Friday and found a return of the same problems it was plagued by Tuesday.
Unable to mount any consistent scoring against Class C1’s #2 ranked squad, BC/NG dropped a 53-11 decision to the Bluejays.
“This was the second time this week we were unable to score the ball. Our shooting percentages were very poor from 2-point and 3-point range and the free throw line,” Kennedy said. “We did not generate any offense in transition or by getting second-chance opportunities with offensive rebounds.”
Further details in Print & Online editions of Albion News
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