Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Tigers’ defense shut down Crestview en route to a 55-28 victory.
NEW MIDDLETOWN — The Springfield High girls basketball team is very protective of its first place standing in the Inter Tri-County League Tier One race.
“I was very nervous about this game,” admitted Springfield coach Sandi Kohler. “Crestview was playing well. They hung with United the other night so you have to show up and play in this league.”
The Tigers did just that as they pulled away from a sluggish 13-11 start against the Rebels and rolled to an impressive 55-28 win Monday night much to the relief of Kohler.
Springfield (12-2, 8-1) remained in first place in the ITCL Tier One standings a game ahead of United.
“You can see why Springfield is at the top of our league,” said Crestview coach Rick Gates. “They are one solid basketball team.
“They have size. They have guards that can shoot the basketball and they play great defense.”
The Tigers had five players score at least nine points. Kallie Rogers led the way with 11 while sophomore Brooke Schrieber and freshman Andrea Zubick each scored ten.
Andria Lyons and Ashley Davis chipped in with nine points apiece.
Lyons, who runs the Tigers from her point guard position said that while the win came easy it was a concern facing the Rebels.
“We knew that we beat them last time but one of their best players was out that game,” Lyons said. “We knew it would be harder this time because they had seen us once and all teams get better from the beginning of the season so we were a little bit nervous.”
The nerves showed as Springfield missed some early shots from the perimeter and Crestview was able to jump out to leads of 5-0 and 7-3 before the Tigers finally got their legs and shooting touches.
Springfield ran off six straight points on baskets by Lyons, Schrieber and Rogers and never relinquished the lead again.
The Tigers defense did the job the rest of the night as it allowed Crestview to score just 21 points the rest of the game.
“I was happy with the way the defense played tonight,” Kohler said. “I know that you have to come and play every night because every game in this league is brutal.
“Last year we didn’t have the best record but we were able to give teams at the top a run for their money. I know what the teams in the basement can do in this league because I was there the last couple of years. We try to make sure we are ready to face everyone.”
Crestview (3-6, 6-8) is a rebuilding team under Gates, who coached the Rebels’ boys teams the last several years.
The Rebels have all freshmen and sophomores, only two juniors and no seniors.
“We are extremely young,” Gates said. “We are playing a lot of underclassmen and taking our lumps but our girls are growing up a little bit game by game.”
Crestview was led by freshman Ashley Harrison who had seven points and seven rebounds. Sophomores Alexis DeMaria and Chelsea Caudill each tallied six points.