Marlette Shut Down in First Half
VASSAR – The Marlette Red Raiders girl’s basketball team ran into a taller team on Wednesday night that came to play defense. The Vassar Vulcans held the Lady Red Raiders to just one first half field goal on their way to a 59-33 victory.
Vassar used their decisive height advantage to disrupt shots and not give very many second chance opportunities. Vassar starts four girls that are 5-9 or taller.
“We are tall,” stated Vassar Coach Bob Nowotny. “It is difficult for other teams to see over us.”
“We were outsized at the post,” said Marlette Coach Cathy Storm. “We knew we would struggle with that. We probably will all season.”
The Lady Red Raiders did not get on the board until the 2:10 mark of the first quarter when senior Kasey Sauder connected on the back end of her two free throws. Sauder finished the evening with five points. Sauder’s free throw would be Marlette’s only point in the first quarter as they trailed 12-1.
Things would not get much better for the Lady Red Raiders in the second quarter, as they would not score their first field goal until the 2:15 mark, 13:45 after the start of the game. Kylee Dobbelaere scored her only bucket of the game off an offensive rebound. Dobbelaere finished with two points.
“Kylee should give us a strong post presence through the season,” stated Storm.
Vassar’s size asserted it’s self again as junior center Kayla Verbeek rebounded her way to six of her game-high 16 points, and senior Jessica Hecht slashed her way to four of her 14 points. Verbeek would also finish with 10 rebounds. Vassar led 31-5 at the half.
“We had a really good start,” said Nowotny. “Our girls gained a lot of confidence from the good start. We played really good defense tonight, especially in the first half. I think they had only one basket in the whole first half. We also out-rebounded them 2-1 in the first half. We only had three turnovers in the first half as well. This is after averaging 14-15 in the first half in our previous two games.”
Marlette’s shooting started to heat up in the second half. Amara Wilson scored all of her team-high 10 points in the second half, and Jenna Thompson scored all eight of her points as well.
“Amara is one of our two players with varsity experience,” said Storm. “She will have to do some things for us to be successful.”
Vassar junior center did keep Marlette honest in the second half by scoring eight of her 10 points.
“Our post players are out best players,” said Nowotny. “They know how to use their body.
The Lady Red Raiders did win the fourth quarter by a score of 18-11, and they were very hot at the free throw line. Marlette shot 9-10 in the second half and 13-18 on the game.
“We do not have a lot of experience,” said Storm. “We just have to learn as we go along, and hope we continue to get better.”
Vassar 59 – Aranyos 1 1-1 3, Gamm 1 1-2 3, Case 0 0-0 0, Huizar 1 0-0 2, K. Hecht 2 0-0 4, McClenathen 1 0-0 2, Kern 1 0-0 2, J. Hecht 4 5-6 14, Schiefer 2 0-0 4, Abbs 0 0-0 0, MacKay DNP, Hauger 3 4-8 10, Verbeek 6 4-6 16. Totals 22 15-22 59.
Marlette 33 – Lewis 0 2-2 2, Spinks 1 0-0 3, Wade 0 0-0 0, Wilson 4 2-2 10, Dobbelaere 1 0-0 2, Jickling 0 0-0 0, Sauder 1 3-4 5, Hirsch 0 0-0 0, Baize 0 3-6 3, Thompson 2 3-4 8, DeVor 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 13-18 33.
Vassar 12 19 17 11 -- 59
Marlette 1 5 9 18 -- 33
3-point goals – Vassar: J. Hecht. Marlette: Spinks, Thompson.
JV score: Vassar won 35-22.
Vassar used their decisive height advantage to disrupt shots and not give very many second chance opportunities. Vassar starts four girls that are 5-9 or taller.
“We are tall,” stated Vassar Coach Bob Nowotny. “It is difficult for other teams to see over us.”
“We were outsized at the post,” said Marlette Coach Cathy Storm. “We knew we would struggle with that. We probably will all season.”
The Lady Red Raiders did not get on the board until the 2:10 mark of the first quarter when senior Kasey Sauder connected on the back end of her two free throws. Sauder finished the evening with five points. Sauder’s free throw would be Marlette’s only point in the first quarter as they trailed 12-1.
Things would not get much better for the Lady Red Raiders in the second quarter, as they would not score their first field goal until the 2:15 mark, 13:45 after the start of the game. Kylee Dobbelaere scored her only bucket of the game off an offensive rebound. Dobbelaere finished with two points.
“Kylee should give us a strong post presence through the season,” stated Storm.
Vassar’s size asserted it’s self again as junior center Kayla Verbeek rebounded her way to six of her game-high 16 points, and senior Jessica Hecht slashed her way to four of her 14 points. Verbeek would also finish with 10 rebounds. Vassar led 31-5 at the half.
“We had a really good start,” said Nowotny. “Our girls gained a lot of confidence from the good start. We played really good defense tonight, especially in the first half. I think they had only one basket in the whole first half. We also out-rebounded them 2-1 in the first half. We only had three turnovers in the first half as well. This is after averaging 14-15 in the first half in our previous two games.”
Marlette’s shooting started to heat up in the second half. Amara Wilson scored all of her team-high 10 points in the second half, and Jenna Thompson scored all eight of her points as well.
“Amara is one of our two players with varsity experience,” said Storm. “She will have to do some things for us to be successful.”
Vassar junior center did keep Marlette honest in the second half by scoring eight of her 10 points.
“Our post players are out best players,” said Nowotny. “They know how to use their body.
The Lady Red Raiders did win the fourth quarter by a score of 18-11, and they were very hot at the free throw line. Marlette shot 9-10 in the second half and 13-18 on the game.
“We do not have a lot of experience,” said Storm. “We just have to learn as we go along, and hope we continue to get better.”
Vassar 59 – Aranyos 1 1-1 3, Gamm 1 1-2 3, Case 0 0-0 0, Huizar 1 0-0 2, K. Hecht 2 0-0 4, McClenathen 1 0-0 2, Kern 1 0-0 2, J. Hecht 4 5-6 14, Schiefer 2 0-0 4, Abbs 0 0-0 0, MacKay DNP, Hauger 3 4-8 10, Verbeek 6 4-6 16. Totals 22 15-22 59.
Marlette 33 – Lewis 0 2-2 2, Spinks 1 0-0 3, Wade 0 0-0 0, Wilson 4 2-2 10, Dobbelaere 1 0-0 2, Jickling 0 0-0 0, Sauder 1 3-4 5, Hirsch 0 0-0 0, Baize 0 3-6 3, Thompson 2 3-4 8, DeVor 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 13-18 33.
Vassar 12 19 17 11 -- 59
Marlette 1 5 9 18 -- 33
3-point goals – Vassar: J. Hecht. Marlette: Spinks, Thompson.
JV score: Vassar won 35-22.
Comments