Wabash Doubles Up Lady Tigers
Warsaw girls hoops team struggles shooting in 54-27 loss
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
Missing the first 16 shots it took, the Warsaw girls basketball team (2-4) didn’t convert a field goal until junior Pam Miller scored with 2:04 remaining in the first half, cutting the Wabash (7-1) lead to 25-6 at the time.
“I’m not sure why we didn’t play with confidence, because we do have kids that can hit shots and we have kids that have been performing,” Warsaw coach Michelle Harter said. “We just came out tonight and were flat from the beginning.”
In all, Warsaw converted 9 of 50 field goal attempts, shooting 18 percent, while Wabash had a field day, making 20 of 36 (56 percent), including 8 of 14 from three-point range.
“The defense is very disappointing to me, because that has been the focus of our program,” Harter said. “We talked about their two shooters, (senior Kyleigh Hampton and junior Claire Cromer), but we left them open and they hit the shots. We just don’t come out on shooters with intensity and hands up. We ran at them with hands down, and when you have a shooter, you’ve got to come out with your hands up. Those are things we talk about and practice, but now they have to take it from practice and apply it in a game. Defensively tonight, we were two or three steps behind.”
Cromer had a game-high 19 points to go with five assists and two steals, but the 5-foot-11 Hampton was an even bigger problem, finishing with 18 points, making 4 of 6 treys, 12 rebounds, four blocks and three assists.
“She’s just a good player,” Harter said of the versatile Hampton. “She’s very athletic and she has that nice shot from the outside.”
Wabash got another 10 points, five rebounds and two steals out of senior Lyndsie Thomas.
“When you come to Warsaw, it doesn’t matter who’s wearing the jerseys – you’re going to have to play pretty well,” Wabash coach Scott Bumgardner said. “We understood that coming in and I thought our kids stepped up and met the challenge tonight.”
Who wasn’t suited up for Warsaw was junior Jodie Carlson, who was out with an illness, as well as junior Megan Kratzsch.
The biggest loss for the Lady Tigers, however, was senior center Nikki Grose, who also missed Saturday’s win over Michigan City with a concussion.
Without Grose in the middle, Wabash had its way inside, and also controlled the Warsaw offense, finishing with seven blocks.
“She’s a big player for them, and they’re also short on numbers,” Bumgardner said. “Losing any player is tough, and I think they were down a couple tonight. They were short-handed and we feel sorry for (Grose), because she is a great player. At the same time, I’m happy with how we played. Whether she was in there or not.”
Even without Grose, Warsaw still has size with 5-foot-10 juniors Pam Miller and Erin Clemens, but the two combined to shoot 2 of 9 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds.
“(Not having Grose) definitely changes the dynamics of our team,” Harter said. “We have to find someone who can score in the post for us. Pam has stepped up a few times, Erin Clemens has hit some shots, (freshman) Page Desenberg (has also hit some shots). We just have to find somebody who’s going to consistently be in there to score in the post for us while Nikki’s out. Even when Nikki comes back, because teams will look to double and triple team her. We also need to get our guards scoring from mid-range.”
Senior Brooklyn Harrison led Warsaw with seven points and six rebounds, while freshman Kilee Slone had six points and four steals.
The loss to Wabash came after things appeared to be going better for Warsaw, which defeated Whitko and Michigan City following its first-ever 0-3 start, and things won’t be getting any easier.
Next up for Warsaw is its Northern Lakes Conference opener at 6-0 Plymouth Saturday night.
On the year, Plymouth’s allowing just 34.5 points per game, and offense has already been a struggle for Warsaw, which scored 26 in its opener at Huntington North, then 27 Tuesday night.
“It is going to be a tough matchup,” Harter said. “I think it would be a tough matchup even if we went in with Nikki and everybody ready to go. That’s just Plymouth and how they play. We will have to come out and take better care of the basketball and make sure when we have an opportunity to score, we finish on the inside.”
Undoubtedly, the addition of Grose would be a great boost to Warsaw’s chances for victory, but it’s still up in the air whether or not she’ll be available.
“It’s to be determined, but as far as I know, it’s a no,” Harter said of Grose playing Saturday. “Unless something between now and then changes, as far how she comes out and practices and does her conditioning where the doctor says, ‘OK, you haven’t had any signs so you can play.’”
WABASH 54, WARSAW 27
Wab 11 17 12 14 – 54
War 3 6 10 8 – 27
Wabash – Claire Cromer 6-12 3-3 19, Lyndsie Thomas 5-10 0-0 10, Kyleigh Hampton 6-9 2-2 18, Jaclyn Lewis 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Puckett 3-5 1-2 7, Kristyn Ford 0-0 0-0 0, Shelby Stone 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Ritter 0-0 0-1 0, Heather Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Katie McCauley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-36 6-8 54.
Warsaw – Kilee Slone 2-8 0-0 6, Eryn Leek 1-9 0-0 2, Pam Miller 2-5 1-2 5, Brooklyn Harrison 3-11 0-0 7, Erin Clemens 0-4 0-0 0, Page Desenberg 1-9 1-2 3, Courtney Farling 0-1 2-2 2, Vicki Harris 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 9-50 3-16 27.
Three-pointers – Wabash 8-14 (Cromer 4, Hampton 4), Warsaw 3-16 (Slone 2, Harrison); Team Fouls – Wabash 10, Warsaw 11; Turnovers – Wabash 16, Warsaw 15; Rebounds – Wabash 30 (Hampton 12), Warsaw 29 (Harrison 6); Assists – Wabash 16 (Cromer 5), Warsaw 6; Steals – Wabash 8 (Cromer 2, Thomas 2, Puckett 2), Warsaw 10 (Slone 4); Blocks – Wabash 7 (Hampton 4), Warsaw 0.
Records: Wabash 7-1, Warsaw 2-4
JV – Warsaw 48, Wabash 9
Warsaw – Dayton Groninger 15, Desenberg 8, Tahya Bruce 8, Courtney Steffensmeier 6, Madi Graham 6, Alexis Devenney 3, Mikaela Till 2[[In-content Ad]]
Missing the first 16 shots it took, the Warsaw girls basketball team (2-4) didn’t convert a field goal until junior Pam Miller scored with 2:04 remaining in the first half, cutting the Wabash (7-1) lead to 25-6 at the time.
“I’m not sure why we didn’t play with confidence, because we do have kids that can hit shots and we have kids that have been performing,” Warsaw coach Michelle Harter said. “We just came out tonight and were flat from the beginning.”
In all, Warsaw converted 9 of 50 field goal attempts, shooting 18 percent, while Wabash had a field day, making 20 of 36 (56 percent), including 8 of 14 from three-point range.
“The defense is very disappointing to me, because that has been the focus of our program,” Harter said. “We talked about their two shooters, (senior Kyleigh Hampton and junior Claire Cromer), but we left them open and they hit the shots. We just don’t come out on shooters with intensity and hands up. We ran at them with hands down, and when you have a shooter, you’ve got to come out with your hands up. Those are things we talk about and practice, but now they have to take it from practice and apply it in a game. Defensively tonight, we were two or three steps behind.”
Cromer had a game-high 19 points to go with five assists and two steals, but the 5-foot-11 Hampton was an even bigger problem, finishing with 18 points, making 4 of 6 treys, 12 rebounds, four blocks and three assists.
“She’s just a good player,” Harter said of the versatile Hampton. “She’s very athletic and she has that nice shot from the outside.”
Wabash got another 10 points, five rebounds and two steals out of senior Lyndsie Thomas.
“When you come to Warsaw, it doesn’t matter who’s wearing the jerseys – you’re going to have to play pretty well,” Wabash coach Scott Bumgardner said. “We understood that coming in and I thought our kids stepped up and met the challenge tonight.”
Who wasn’t suited up for Warsaw was junior Jodie Carlson, who was out with an illness, as well as junior Megan Kratzsch.
The biggest loss for the Lady Tigers, however, was senior center Nikki Grose, who also missed Saturday’s win over Michigan City with a concussion.
Without Grose in the middle, Wabash had its way inside, and also controlled the Warsaw offense, finishing with seven blocks.
“She’s a big player for them, and they’re also short on numbers,” Bumgardner said. “Losing any player is tough, and I think they were down a couple tonight. They were short-handed and we feel sorry for (Grose), because she is a great player. At the same time, I’m happy with how we played. Whether she was in there or not.”
Even without Grose, Warsaw still has size with 5-foot-10 juniors Pam Miller and Erin Clemens, but the two combined to shoot 2 of 9 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds.
“(Not having Grose) definitely changes the dynamics of our team,” Harter said. “We have to find someone who can score in the post for us. Pam has stepped up a few times, Erin Clemens has hit some shots, (freshman) Page Desenberg (has also hit some shots). We just have to find somebody who’s going to consistently be in there to score in the post for us while Nikki’s out. Even when Nikki comes back, because teams will look to double and triple team her. We also need to get our guards scoring from mid-range.”
Senior Brooklyn Harrison led Warsaw with seven points and six rebounds, while freshman Kilee Slone had six points and four steals.
The loss to Wabash came after things appeared to be going better for Warsaw, which defeated Whitko and Michigan City following its first-ever 0-3 start, and things won’t be getting any easier.
Next up for Warsaw is its Northern Lakes Conference opener at 6-0 Plymouth Saturday night.
On the year, Plymouth’s allowing just 34.5 points per game, and offense has already been a struggle for Warsaw, which scored 26 in its opener at Huntington North, then 27 Tuesday night.
“It is going to be a tough matchup,” Harter said. “I think it would be a tough matchup even if we went in with Nikki and everybody ready to go. That’s just Plymouth and how they play. We will have to come out and take better care of the basketball and make sure when we have an opportunity to score, we finish on the inside.”
Undoubtedly, the addition of Grose would be a great boost to Warsaw’s chances for victory, but it’s still up in the air whether or not she’ll be available.
“It’s to be determined, but as far as I know, it’s a no,” Harter said of Grose playing Saturday. “Unless something between now and then changes, as far how she comes out and practices and does her conditioning where the doctor says, ‘OK, you haven’t had any signs so you can play.’”
WABASH 54, WARSAW 27
Wab 11 17 12 14 – 54
War 3 6 10 8 – 27
Wabash – Claire Cromer 6-12 3-3 19, Lyndsie Thomas 5-10 0-0 10, Kyleigh Hampton 6-9 2-2 18, Jaclyn Lewis 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Puckett 3-5 1-2 7, Kristyn Ford 0-0 0-0 0, Shelby Stone 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Ritter 0-0 0-1 0, Heather Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Katie McCauley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-36 6-8 54.
Warsaw – Kilee Slone 2-8 0-0 6, Eryn Leek 1-9 0-0 2, Pam Miller 2-5 1-2 5, Brooklyn Harrison 3-11 0-0 7, Erin Clemens 0-4 0-0 0, Page Desenberg 1-9 1-2 3, Courtney Farling 0-1 2-2 2, Vicki Harris 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 9-50 3-16 27.
Three-pointers – Wabash 8-14 (Cromer 4, Hampton 4), Warsaw 3-16 (Slone 2, Harrison); Team Fouls – Wabash 10, Warsaw 11; Turnovers – Wabash 16, Warsaw 15; Rebounds – Wabash 30 (Hampton 12), Warsaw 29 (Harrison 6); Assists – Wabash 16 (Cromer 5), Warsaw 6; Steals – Wabash 8 (Cromer 2, Thomas 2, Puckett 2), Warsaw 10 (Slone 4); Blocks – Wabash 7 (Hampton 4), Warsaw 0.
Records: Wabash 7-1, Warsaw 2-4
JV – Warsaw 48, Wabash 9
Warsaw – Dayton Groninger 15, Desenberg 8, Tahya Bruce 8, Courtney Steffensmeier 6, Madi Graham 6, Alexis Devenney 3, Mikaela Till 2[[In-content Ad]]
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