Advertisement

Central girls basketball has 2-1 week, but team is still a work in progress

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

Ashlyn Scherf scored nine points off the bench in Central’s win over West Central last week. (Photos by Bev Hamann)

Lexi Loan looks to make a pass against West Central.

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

The Central girls basketball team headed into the season looking to repeat last year’s success and, early on, it’s gone well. Going into this past week, the Warriors were looking to test themselves against some stiff competition and finished the week 2-1, defeating West Central and Kee, before dropping their first game of the year against Springville. 

After the week of play, coach Mark Wiley remarked “We still need to finish better around the rim. As coaches, we have to implement time in practice to work on these fundamental things of shooting and footwork, even in the paint.” 

But he has been impressed with “the players that have a lack of varsity experience. We certainly had some great players last season, and those kids aren’t replaced. Instead, we have to build a team best suited to be effective for this season. We are doing a lot of great things on the basketball court.” 

In the game against West Central, the Warriors were concerned with the inside presence of Bryleigh Rouse, but Central limited her to 14 points and just six rebounds. In the second half, the defense shut down West Central’s inside presence, and went on to win 65-33.

Central was led in scoring by Haley Frieden, with a career-high 30 points, while the Scherf sisters combined for 28 points. Delaney scored 19 and Ashlyn, coming off the bench, added nine points. 

Frieden led the team with 11 rebounds as well, while Lexi Loan pulled down eight, Abby Cummer five and Carly Kluesner four. 

“We were able to grab 19 offensive rebounds in the game, which led to 15 second chance points. It was a major difference in the second half,” Wiley said. 

Delaney Scherf dished out seven assists in the game, while Grace Kuehl, Loan and Cummer each had one assist. 

Ashlyn Scherf had three steals and Delaney Scherf, Frieden and Cummer each had two steals. Kaitlyn Wiley, Fern Diersen and Maci Kluesner had one steal apiece. 

“We have to continue to work on distributing the basketball to open shooters in rhythm. We shifted the interior of our defense to take away the post entry that was effective for West Central in the first half. We pressed in the first half and saw the effects of the press on West Central in the second half,” Wiley said. 

Later on in the week, against Kee, the Warriors smothered the Hawks’ offense, holding them to 10 or fewer points in the final three periods of a 53-39 victory. 

Delaney Scherf led the team with 24 points, Frieden had 12 points and Hannah Asche added six points off the bench. Cummer scored the first two field goals of the game for four points, while Carly Kluesner added three points. 

Frieden led the team with nine rebounds and Cummer grabbed five, while Delaney Scherf and Carly Kluesner pulled down four rebounds each. 

“We were out rebounded in the game, but fortunately we didn’t give up very many second chance points. We still have to work on finding the opponent on every shot,” Wiley remarked. 

Delaney Scherf had five steals and teammates Cummer, Frieden, Asche, Loan, Kuehl and Diersen each had one. 

“We were active on the defensive end and need to continue to work on our communication no matter what type of defense we play,” Wiley said.

Frieden had a team-leading four assists, and Loan and Carly Kluesner each had two. 

“We shot the basketball really well at 39 percent. This was a good road win as it is always a tough place and opponent to play at Kee High. We need to continue to show patience on the offensive end, especially when we were in the second half with a double-digit lead,” Wiley commented. 

The final game of the week saw the Warriors drop their first game of the season, as Springville won 50-42. 

Central was led in scoring by Delaney Scherf and Frieden, each with 12 points. Ashlyn Scherf had six points, Kuehl added five and Asche hit a three-point field goal for the Warriors off the bench. 

Delaney Scherf grabbed eight rebounds on the night, while Frieden had seven and Cummer and Ashlyn Scherf each had five. Delaney Scherf also led the team with five steals and three assists and Frieden had two assists and a steal. 

“We did out-rebound Springville, but Springville had nine second chance points compared to our six. We grabbed rebounds on the defensive end and then made some careless mistakes, turning the basketball over, which led to easy field goals for Springville. We had 16 turnovers and Springville had 14 points off those turnovers,” Wiley said. 

Commenting on the first loss of the season Wiley said, “We did not shoot the basketball as well as we are capable of, but it is also due to the high level of defense Springville played against us. We had long dry spells on the offensive end in the first and second quarter without scoring. Likewise, their best player was effective, and we didn’t take away her ability to attack the rim off the dribble. This was a great test early in the season against the number six team in the state in class 1A. We cut the lead to three in the fourth quarter, but Springville put the game away at the free throw line down the stretch.”

The girls will look to get back on track this week against the 1-2 Clayton Ridge Eagles at home on Dec. 8, before traveling to face the 2-0 North Fayette Valley TigerHawks on Dec. 11. 

Head coach Mark Wiley contributed to this article.

Rate this article: 
No votes yet