The Lady Centurions march on to Diddle Arena and the Sweet 16, defeating the Valkyries to claim the 7th Region title in a battle that was closer than the final margin indicates.

 

Stats and details to follow...

CAL 59 Sacred Heart 49

The Lady Centurions march on to Diddle Arena and the Sweet 16, vanquishing the Valkyries to claim the 7th Region title in a battle that was closer than the final margin indicates. CAL’s coaching staff met the morning after the semifinal win over Manual to strategize and implement a different offensive scheme for the regional final. After a shoot-around and walk-through, the troops were ready. The preparation paid off in the form of a career night (thus far) facing this level of competition for Antonita Slaughter (34 points, 13 rebounds).

 

Game Summary

Following emotional wins the previous night over Manual and Assumption, it was easy to speculate that the teams might come out flat. Whether or not that was the case with the Valkyries is unclear, but the Lady Centurions seized the opportunity in the opening minutes. The newly designed spread offense may have caught the Valkyries out of position as Antonita Slaughter went to work and CAL jumped out to a 7-point lead.

End of 1st quarter: CAL 10 Sacred Heart 3

 

Sacred Heart came out of their slumber in the 2nd quarter. Although CAL briefly edged out to their largest lead at 21-8, the Valkyries’ press sparked a counterattack for some transition baskets and the start of the Autumn Miller show to offset Slaughter’s production. As expected, Coach Moir adjusted her defensive scheme and a 14-4 run made it a three-point game by period’s end.

Halftime: CAL 25 Sacred Heart 22

 

Following the example of their coach, the rarely rattled Valkyries continued their comeback in the 3rd quarter, grabbed their first lead at 27-26 on a Jackie Hafele layup created by a CAL turnover, and kept rolling to a 39-33 advantage, double-teaming Slaughter. At that juncture, CAL’s Clair Buchanan came to the forefront, orchestrating the offense and trailblazing paths to the basket for two buckets to close out the quarter before collapsing to the floor in exhaustion.

End of 3rd quarter: Sacred Heart 39 CAL 37

 

Between quarters, it appeared Buchanan would take a break, but when she returned to the court to begin the period, CAL’s Hannah Bowman retreated to the bench to avoid having six players on the court. Buchanan scored four more points in the final quarter’s first two minutes and CAL regained the lead at 43-41. Far from finished, Maddie Peabody responded with a 3-pointer for the Valkyries for a 44-43 edge at the 4:00 mark. However, CAL’s spread offense strategy had created one-on one situations for Slaughter and Buchanan throughout the contest and foul trouble began to mount. When Slaughter hit two free throws to make it 45-44, CAL never again lost the lead. Her traditional three-point play expanded the margin to 50-44. SHA’s Autumn Miller was a warrior until the end, totaling 18 points and 8 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, but it wasn’t enough. CAL kept the ball in the hands of Allison Karst, Anna Hart, Buchanan, and Slaughter to finish the game from the FT line. It was a strange sensation to emerge as the lone 7th Region survivor amidst the region’s formidable five this season: CAL, Sacred Heart, Manual, Mercy, and Assumption, no losers in the bunch.

Final: CAL 59 Sacred Heart 49

 

Scoring/Stats

CAL:

• Individual: Slaughter 34 (13 rebounds), Buchanan 14 (8 rebounds), Karst 4, Hart 3 (6 rebounds), Walden 2 (3 rebounds), Bowman 2 (2 rebounds)

• Team: FG 19/41=46.3%, 3 Pt. 0/5=0%, FT 21/28=75%, Rebounds 35

Note: I believe this was the only game of the season in which CAL did not make a 3-point shot. The offensive stats fail to reflect the total team effort.

Sacred Heart:

• Individual: Miller 18 (8 rebounds), Hafele 12 (6 rebounds), Peabody 8 (6 rebounds), Clemons 7 (2 rebounds), McGreal 2, Washle 2

• Team: FG 18/46=39.1%, 3 Pt. 2/11=18.2%, FT 11/23=47.8%, Rebounds 26

 

Dr. Rudy J. Ellis 7th Region All-Tournament Team

Alexis Biddix - Eastern

Therese Montano - Mercy

Teonia McCune - Fern Creek

Nicole Heitz - Ballard

Molly Ernst - Assumption

Kara Wright - Manual

Autumn Miller - Sacred Heart

Jackie Hafele - Sacred Heart

Clair Buchanan - CAL

Allison Karst - CAL

Antonita Slaughter - CAL

 

Coming up…

CAL will face 10th Region champion Montgomery Co. in the opening round of the Sweet 16 at Diddle Arena on Wednesday, March 11. Although CAL defeated them in a tight game in the Republic Bank Holiday Classic, it’s a whole new ballgame this time around with revised offensive/defensive schemes for both. Of course, there is one trait the two teams share…the joy of making it to the Sweet 16. :thumb:

Edited March 8, 200917 yr by CAL4ALL
typo

After that hard fought Region you now get to play Montgomery County! Good luck CAL4ALL and as usual, nice update.

We at Manual wish CAL the best of luck in the Sweet Sixteen - great Regional Tourney!

We at Manual wish CAL the best of luck in the Sweet Sixteen - great Regional Tourney!

Welcome to the site. :thumb:

What a game. Hated to SHA lose but it's all apart of it.

 

CAL's Slaughter is in a class all of her own. Best of luck to CAL at state.

 

Also, CAL student section is very entertaining. Had a smaller version of Cov Cath student section.

After that hard fought Region you now get to play Montgomery County!

 

Yes, it's a tough draw. Defeating Montgomery Co. earlier in the season should provide CAL with the confidence of knowing it can be done. However, they won't be overconfident, just prepared. The coaches are well aware of the Lady Indians' success and changes in offensive/defensive strategies immediately after the CAL game and throughout the season. The Lady Centurions remember the challenges of facing Webb, Lee, Jehlik, and company, now with an added revenge factor.

 

And the winner will likely play Iroquois! :ohbrother: