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Defensive pressure key for Lady Bombers
(by Tony Lange - December 14, 2011)
Defensive pressure key for Lady Bombers
By TONY LANGE
Kenston's fast start was the difference last Friday as the Lady Bombers ran out to a 15-point lead in the first half against Chagrin Falls in what turned out to be a physical battle between conference foes.
Holding Chagrin Falls to just eight points by halftime, the Lady Bombers wanted to make the Lady Tigers earn every point, Kenston head coach Kevin Hinkle said of the Bombers' 37-27 victory.
"The lead we built was definitely a factor of our defensive pressure, absolutely," he said. "We did a great job in our half-court pressure and I was really happy with our effort. We caused a couple of turnovers and went after them."
Chagrin Falls missed a dozen field goals in the first half while sinking just two.
Meanwhile, 5-foot-7 Kenston junior Grace Moran was determined to drive to the hoop on offense as she dribbled right at the Lady Tigers' 6-foot-4 and 6-foot Thome twins, Hallie and Hannah.
The twins or the rest of the Tigers, however, weren't going to give up any freebies and forced Moran to the foul line six times in the first half, where she sunk nine of 12 free throws.
"I was real angry they weren't giving me any easy points, so I kind of took it at them," Moran said. "At first, it worked going to the free-throw line, but they kind of figured out what I was doing and we had to switch the game up a little bit."
With Hannah and Hallie possessing such height as incoming freshman, the Lady Bombers were focused on both of them and being at the help side defensively, Kenston senior Katie Ross said.
"Basically, our coach said our posts would keep us in the game and our guards would win the game," she said. "I think everyone just did a really good job of rotating and helping each other out."
Chagrin Falls head coach, Brittany Anderson, said the Tigers knew coming in that it would be a pressure-filled game on both ends of the court.
"We knew that, but I don't think the girls really expected exactly how physical it was going to be in the first half," she said. "So, I told them, if they're going to bring it to you, you've got to go right back at them and continue to put the pressure on them. Play physical. If the refs are going to let it get physical, get physical and just wait for a call to happen. So, we were kind of flustered in the first half."
Down 23-8 at halftime, the Lady Tigers came out of the locker room with blocks and buckets as they went on a 10-3 run to open the third quarter.
With about three minutes left in the quarter, Kenston went with a new game plan on offense: hold the ball.
For a little more than two minutes, the Lady Bombers ate away at the clock with a possession game that consisted of lots of passing, minimum dribbling and no shooting.
Kenston was struggling to get a good look and were forcing things before that long possession, Hinkle said.
"I wanted to spread them out and see if we could get Chagrin's center out of the middle and maybe attack around her, but she wasn't coming out," he said. "So, we figured we were in pretty good shape to handle the ball and hopefully get them tired for the fourth quarter."
Despite Chagrin's 6-0 start in the fourth quarter, the Lady Bombers were able to fend off the Tigers and hold on.
Hallie Thome led the scoring for Chagrin with 13 points and Moran led Kenston with 19 points.
Chagrin fell to 2-2, while Kenston improved to 4-1 on the season.
"I know as long as I've been here, we've never been so pumped up for a game," Kenston senior Tess Ferguson said. "So, we were just really excited to play. The coach always tells us that you need to play to win and I think all of us came out to do that."
Both the Bombers and the Tigers play again at 7:30 p.m. this Friday. Kenston will host Perry and Chagrin Falls will travel to West Geauga.
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