Balanced attack leads Onekama to
rout of Crossroads
By MATT WENZEL
Manistee News Advocate Sports Editor
Published: Thursday, December 9, 2010
ONEKAMA — After blowing a nine-point lead
in the waning minutes of a season-opening loss to Bear Lake last
week, Onekama took a different approach against Crossroads Charter
Academy.
Put the game away in the first quarter.
The Portagers surged to a 19-point lead after the first eight
minutes and were on cruise control the rest of the way in a 66-31
West Michigan D League win against the Cougars on Wednesday.
“It was a little bittersweet,” said Onekama coach Nathan Bradford.
“We went over a few things in practice and I said ‘we are better
than we were (against Bear Lake).’ So, they came ready to play
tonight.” Onekama also spread out the scoring much better than it
did against the Lakers as all eight players scored. Jennica Mathieu
scored 10 of her team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter to go
with eight rebounds and four steals. Lindsay Newburg turned in 14
points and six rebounds while Taylor Hagen had 12 points and four
steals.“It’s a little easier when
you have a few more girls chip in and score,” Bradford said. “I
thought we worked the ball around well tonight and everyone did a
good job.”
While mixing everyone into the lineup, the Portagers (1-1, 1-1 WMD)
also remained aggressive throughout and didn’t allow the Cougars
(0-3, 0-2) to get back in the game.
“We never beat Crossroads before and tonight was our time,” Mathieu
said. “We came out strong headed for that win and we got it.”
Crossroads, on the other hand, is struggling early this season after
losing three key seniors.
“Give them credit, I know they wanted it pretty bad,” Crossroads J.
J. Eads said of the Portagers. “I thought, honestly, we would come
out a little better than we did after having MCE hand it to us
pretty good Friday. I thought we would come back with a little more
fire. It just didn’t happen.”
Onekama made its first three shots of the game as it stormed out of
the gate and forced the Cougars into 10 first-quarter turnovers.
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“I told the girls, ‘come out with a little
more intensity,’” Bradford said. “The last game, I thought we were
standing a little bit too much on defense.”
Onekama’s Taylor Hagen elevates
for two of her 12 points during a win against Crossroads Wednesday.
(Matt Wenzel/News Advocate)
Crossroads’ Ashley Soller scored 43 seconds
into the game, then the Cougars went 7:16 without a point as Onekama
took a 22-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
“They took it to us early and often,” Eads said, “and we could never get
back into it.”
Soller finished with 12 points to lead the Cougars while Courtney
Carlson had eight points, 11 rebounds and four steals.
Making the most of 12 free throw attempts in
the second quarter, the Cougars pulled within 14 points, but that was as
close as they got the rest of the way.
“They came back a little before halftime and I told the girls, ‘don’t
let up, keep it on them and we won’t have to worry,’” Bradford said.
The Portagers weren’t threatened at all in the second half and opened a
30-point lead midway through the third quarter. Overall, Onekama’s
starting unit outscored Crossroads’, 54-29. Danielle Ward finished with
eight points and 12 rebounds, Nicole Slater had eight points, Kelly Koon
four while Brooke Sedelmaier and Ashley DeRooy had two apiece.
“Every mistake we made, Onekama made us pay for it,” Eads said. “That’s
the sign of a solid team.” |
