TRUMBULL ATHLETIC CONFERENCE Girard drops Champion

A quick and pesky defense led the Indians to their 10th win.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
GIRARD -- The Champion High girls basketball team tried to slow its offensive attack, spread the floor, set up plays and work for good shots against Girard on Thursday night.
The Golden Flashes didn't want to get into any kind of running game with the quick and multi-talented Indians in their Trumbull Athletic Conference match-up.
The strategy worked for a while as Champion managed to stay within striking distance just into the third quarter, lagging 25-18.
But then Girard called on its defense to foil the tactics, and the Indians' intensive pressure opened the gates to a 45-27 victory.
Girard (10-1, 7-1) moved within a game of Hubbard (8-0) in the league standings.
Champion's strategy
"We had to slow down the game. We couldn't make it a full-court game against them. They are too quick and too athletic," said Champion coach Jeff Thompson.
"We were doing this for 21/2 quarters, then we started to force things and take quick shots."
Girard's quick and pesky defense was the main problem, said coach Andy Saxon.
"I knew he [Thompson] wanted to slow down the game," said Saxon. "We tried to keep pressure on them the entire game. With our press, we forced them into some quick shots. We took them out of their offense."
Cachet Murray scored 13 points to lead Girard, but she had plenty of support. Bree Longberry added 10 points, including two 3-point goals, while Tealle Hunkus had seven rebounds with six points and Jen Maravola seven assists with six points, both 3-point goals.
Saxon said his bench also contributed.
"We were pressing four quarters and we needed that [help]," said Saxon, particularly pleased with Jenny Sopkovich and Erin Walters.
Walters bruised her knee and had to leave the game.
Jessica Carpenter led Champion (6-5, 4-4) with 13 points, while Jessica Wood added eight. Elizabeth Wood contributed four rebounds and four blocks.
Strong start
Girard got off to a strong start behind Murray, who had nine points to spark the Indians to a 23-7 advantage early in the second period.
But Champion regrouped and managed to blunt the Indians' early momentum with nine unanswered points, seven from Carpenter to pull within 23-16.
But in the third, Maravola hit a key 3-point goal and Kristen Ragozine followed with a basket as Girard surged back to safety at 30-18 and eventually put the game away.
kovach@vindy.com