Craig girls open with victory
Photo
Craig's Kelsey Kennedy drives to the hoop under pressure from Sun Prairie's Alyssa Chase on Thursday.
Photo
Craig's Ally Marshick hounds Sun Prairie's Paige Albi on Thursday.
Photo
Craig's Anne Morgan gets squeezed by Sun Prairie's Paige Albi, left, and Stephanie Haight on Thursday.
JANESVILLE — As far as season opener’s go, Mark Marsden didn’t have much to complain about Thursday night.
The Janesville Craig High girls basketball coach watched his young Cougars execute a perfect game plan in upending Sun Prairie, 49-40, in a Big Eight Conference clash.
The Cougars used a balanced scoring attack, a stifling defense and an impressive 17 of 20 performance from the free throw line in their 2008-09 debut.
“It was a total team effort, and that’s what I was hoping to see,” Marsden said. “We controlled the boards, stayed patient on offense and knocked down some clutch free throws in the fourth quarter when we had to.
“I was worried coming into tonight because I saw Sun Prairie dismantle Stoughton last Saturday night. But we kept our composure and didn’t panic when they made a run at the end.”
Craig led 37-26 early in the fourth, but Sun Prairie (1-1, 0-1) went on a 5-0 run to trim the lead to six. Anne Morgan, who led all scorers with 16 points, then converted on back-to-back possessions for the Cougars to push the lead back to 10.
Sun Prairie got within five with a minute left, but the Cougars put them away at the free throw line. Whitney Storbakken hit two free throws with 32 seconds left to push the lead back to seven, and after a Sun Prairie basket, added two more free throws with 12 seconds left to erase any hopes of a Cardinal comeback.
“We’re going to be a tough team to beat if we have the lead late because we shoot free throws pretty well,” Marsden said. “I like the way the girls responded in the fourth quarter because you knew at some point Sun Prairie was going to make a run. They’ve got a nice team.”
Craig seized control in the first half. An 8-3 run sparked by Kelsey Kennedy gave the Cougars an early lead, and they eventually led 17-11 after the first quarter. The Cougars padded the lead in the second quarter behind Amanda Hamilton. The 5-foot-2 sophomore hit a three-point basket with 1:07 left in the half to give Craig a 29-15 lead and finished with eight points in the half.
Morgan was the story in the second half. The 5-11 junior had 14 of her 16 in the final 16 minutes, including six straight free throws in fourth.
“We don’t really have a total go-to player, but we have a number of girls that can put up some points,” Marsden said. “Anne did a nice job tonight of positioning in the post, and got some good looks at the basket.”
Storbakken finished with 11 points for the Cougars, while Kennedy chipped in nine.
Craig will host Beloit Memorial (0-2, 0-1) on Saturday afternoon at 2:45.
CRAIG 49, SUN PRAIRIE 40
Sun Prairie (40)—Granitz 2-2-6, Haight 3-5-15; Albi 5-0-12; Chase 2-1-5; Rodenkirch 1-0-2. Totals: 15-6-40.
Craig (49)—Kennedy 3-2-9; W. Storbakken 2-6-11; Morgan 5-6-16; Marshick 0-3-3; Hinman 1-0-2; Hamilton 3-0-8. Totals: 14-17-49
Sun Prairie 11 4 11 14—40
Janesville Craig 17 12 6 14—49
Three-point goals—Sun Prairie 4 (Haight 2, Albi 2), Craig 4 (Hamilton 2, Kennedy, Storbakken). Free throws missed—Sun Prairie 3, Craig 3. Total fouls—Sun Prairie 14, Craig 9.
Sophomores—Craig 49, Sun Prairie 25. Craig leading scorer: Ciarra Sroda, 16. Craig is 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Eight.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.