Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WABASH - When the ragged first quarter came to an end with Manchester and Southwood tied 13-13, Jody Shewman stressed one point to her team before the second quarter began.
"I emphasized defense," the Manchester coach said. "We were tied 13-13, and our defense really stunk. We'd go down and score. Then we'd let them score."
Message heard, Coach.
The Squires outscored Southwood 12-2 in the first four minutes of the second quarter to take a 25-15 lead. That stretch was the difference in the game, as Manchester won by 10, 64-54.
This was the third straight year Manchester knocked Southwood out of the sectional. It was also the third time this season Manchester beat Southwood.
Manchester and Southwood each scored 45 points in the first, third and fourth quarters. But Manchester's 12-2 run helped the Squires outscore Southwood 19-9 in the second quarter.
The Squire offense came through, as Manchester hit 7 of 9 shots in the quarter. So did Shewman's defense. Manchester held Southwood to 3-of-14 shooting, and the Squires tallied four steals.
Manchester junior guard Katie Parker sat down the last four minutes of the first quarter with two fouls. She returned early in the second quarter and keyed Manchester's spurt.
Squire sophomore Megan Eckert's steal with 6:44 left led to a Parker layup. Manchester led 18-13. After a Southwood basket, Parker made two free throws put the lead at 20-15. With 5:28 left, Parker stole the ball and dribbled downcourt for a layup. She drew a foul. She hit her free throw, and Manchester led 23-15.
An Eckert basket capped Manchester's 12-2 run with 4:52 left, putting the Squires up 25-15.
The Squires' lead rose and fell between 16 and five points the rest of the game.
Defensively, Shewman had two main concerns coming in. Southwood point guard Jill Sheets and Southwood forward Rachel Perkins. The Squires frustrated Perkins the first half, as she scored four points on 2-of-8 shooting. When she touched the ball, she usually got it well beyond the three-point line, where she couldn't hurt the Squires.
"We tried to keep the ball out of Perkins' hands," Shewman said. "We did that for a while."
Perkins scored eight in the second half to finish with 12. Sheets led Southwood with 17 points.
Offensively, Shewman asked some of her players to help out Eckert, who came in averaging nearly 20 points per game. Jodie Peden answered that call, scoring 19. She tallied Manchester's last seven points of the first half to keep the Squires' lead at 10, 32-22, entering the second half.
"I stressed to them that they'll really be keying on Megan," Shewman said. "Jodie Peden did a nice job. Erin Groombridge popped a couple of threes. Parker did a nice job."
The Squires made sure they stayed in front by getting to the free throw line the second half. They hit 13 of 17 free throws in the last half, including 8 of 8 by Peden. They hit 17 of 22 free throws and 21 of 43 field goals overall.
Eckert scored 18, Parker 11 and Groombridge eight.
"It's tough to compete with a team that doesn't miss a free throw and shoots as well as they shoot," Southwood coach Rod Cole said. "Give them credit. They put the ball in the hoop, and they smothered us defensively, just enough times to make a run and build a lead."
Huntington North (15-5), ranked No. 20, ousted Northfield (8-10) 57-32 in the second game. Huntington is the odds-on favorite to win the sectional, but Shewman has had her team bucking the odds all season. After all, the Squires won five games last year. They nearly tripled that with a 14-5 record this year.
"I think we have a chance to win," Shewman said. "We're playing pretty good ball right now."
