Salem Lady Quakers defensive pressure key to sectional final win over Struthers
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| (Chuck Cordes - Ohsfbmedia.com) |
By Gene Simmons | X.COM
SALEM, Ohio--Defensive pressure was the key for the Lady Quakers in a 22 point win over visiting Lady Struthers Wildcats in OHSAA sectional final game 56-34.
In a game where Struthers never would lead, the steady and consistent full court pressure Salem would create trouble.
The pressure was so intense that Struthers would only have one point until 4:47 of the first quarter after scoring on a 2-shot foul by Natalie Adams.
By the end of the quarter Salem would come out of the press giving the Wildcats a opportunity to score some points, Struthers climbed back in the game on a big three point shot by Natalie Wolikow now trailing 7-9 with 2:49 left in the first quarter but that would not keep them from scoring as they would end the quarter trailing 16-9.
Quaker senior Reese Davidson-Chuck would be the key factor as she would steal and score to open up the second quarter adding to her 10 for the half and sophomore Abby Knickerbocker to her eight, "We like to fly around a lot and get steals," said Knickerbocker.
"With our length I think we do really good with that everybody just pressures, it creates good steals and buckets," said Davidson-Chuck.
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| Battling for a rebound during Div. IV Sectional final inside John A. Cabas Gymnasium. (Chuck Cordes) |
Coming off the bench and providing a spark for Struthers was junior Natalie Adams making a huge impact in the paint as she would be aggressive to get the Wildcats going finishing with 8 points for the game adding 9 by sophomore Gianna Martin.
Leading by 21 points with about 3:00 minutes left in the game there would be no looking back as Salem would ease into a district semi final with rival West Branch who they would be playing for a third time this season.
"Definitely are girls are going to be ready to play, um we played them twice already losing by ten then by four over at their place, I think our girls want this, you know we all want this so hopefully we get better the next few days, we had to take care of business tonight," said Head Coach Matt Mowery.
Game leading scorer Davidson-Chuck would exit the game at the 5:13 mark of the fourth quarter and did not return, apparently holding her right hand, stating later in interview that it's something she did in practice earlier in week and just tweaked it indicating she will be ready to play against West Branch.
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