Zehentbauer helps keep United atop ITCL

January 27, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

By lowell Spencer

HANOVERTON

The United High girls basketball team is methodically inching its way to the Inter Tri-County League Tier One title.

Thursday, the Eagles (12-3, 9-0) turned back Crestview, 47-40.

“We knew it was going to be a battle,” United coach Sam Mathias said. “Even when we were up by maybe 15 or something at one point, they came storming back.”

Mathias was always prepared for a battle.

“They have been playing very, very well, the last four or five games,” he said. “We knew we were going to have to go down to the last few second there, but I have to give our girls credit, they hung in there.”

After the Eagles missed a couple of lay-ups and free throws to start the game, they trailed 3-1 when Emily Zehentbauer caught fire.

The junior guard poured in three 3-pointers to lead a 13-0 run and the Eagles never looked back.

“It was awesome,” Zehentbauer said. “Because last game I was shooting so bad, I was like in a little shooting depression, and it felt good.”

Zehentbauer and senior forward Taylor Smith each scored 12 points.

Crestview coach Rick Gates said the early deficit was trouble.

“We dug a hole early,” Gates said. “We just kind of had to battle back the whole night it felt like.”

The Eagles held an 11-point advantage at halftime, 28-17.

The lead grew to 14, but to the Rebels’ credit, they battled.

After twice cutting the margin to nine points on three 3-pointers by junior guard Ashley Harrison, the Eagles countered to restore the 14-point edge.

“I give our girls a lot of credit,” Gates said. “I said, you have a lot of heart, you played extremely hard. We just didn’t play real well tonight.”

He also said that United does indeed deserve to be thought of as one of the league’s best teams.

“Give them credit, they haven’t lost in the league,” Gates said. “They have taken care of business. They are the best team in the league right now.”

However, Mathias sees plenty for his team to work on — the Eagles committed 20 turnovers in the game.

“We have got to work on handling pressure,” Mathias said. “There are sometimes we do it really well, and sometimes we don’t do it well, and our goal is to win a league title first and advance farther into the tournament.”

Harrison led the Rebels in scoring with 14 points. Senior Taylor Chamberlain came off the bench to chip in seven points.