By Adam Rouse
Staff Writer
JEFFERSONVILLE ââ?¬â?? It sure wasnââ?¬â?¢t pretty, but style
points don�t count much when a trip to the state championship game is on the
line.
points don�t count much when a trip to the state championship game is on the
line.
Class 4A
No. 11 Castle controlled a low-scoring affair through three quarters Feb. 25 before
holding off a late charge by eighth-ranked Hamilton Southeastern to defeat the Royals,
43-36. The win is the 14th straight for the Knights and advances
them to the 4A state title game against top-ranked South Bend Washington
next week at Conseco Fieldhouse.
No. 11 Castle controlled a low-scoring affair through three quarters Feb. 25 before
holding off a late charge by eighth-ranked Hamilton Southeastern to defeat the Royals,
43-36. The win is the 14th straight for the Knights and advances
them to the 4A state title game against top-ranked South Bend Washington
next week at Conseco Fieldhouse.
After
losing three games in a row over winter break, the Knights (24-3) have been on
a tear over the last half of the season. Blitzing through its first four
postseason games with an average winning margin of 21 points, Castle found out
quickly that sending home Southeastern (22-4) would be no easy task.
losing three games in a row over winter break, the Knights (24-3) have been on
a tear over the last half of the season. Blitzing through its first four
postseason games with an average winning margin of 21 points, Castle found out
quickly that sending home Southeastern (22-4) would be no easy task.
The Royals
overcame a porous offensive effort through three quarters to even the score
midway through the final eight minutes, but the comeback was insufficient as the
Knights found enough points down the stretch to move on.
overcame a porous offensive effort through three quarters to even the score
midway through the final eight minutes, but the comeback was insufficient as the
Knights found enough points down the stretch to move on.
Heading to
the final eight minutes of action, Castle held a 30-19 advantage. That�s right
ââ?¬â?? a combined 49 points were scored through the first three quarters of a
semistate game between top-ranked teams. We�ll get to that in just a minute.
the final eight minutes of action, Castle held a 30-19 advantage. That�s right
ââ?¬â?? a combined 49 points were scored through the first three quarters of a
semistate game between top-ranked teams. We�ll get to that in just a minute.
Hamilton
Southeastern Senior Kylie York began an 11-0 fourth-quarter run with a three-pointer
to start the late rally. Freshman Courtney Osborn connected on another long-distance
shot to bring the Royals within two at 30-28. And junior Molly Greco scored her
only two points of the game to knot the score at 30-all with 4:12 to go.
Southeastern Senior Kylie York began an 11-0 fourth-quarter run with a three-pointer
to start the late rally. Freshman Courtney Osborn connected on another long-distance
shot to bring the Royals within two at 30-28. And junior Molly Greco scored her
only two points of the game to knot the score at 30-all with 4:12 to go.
Yet despite
not putting a single point on the board for the first 4:11 of the final period,
Castle would not trail. Senior Lynn McKinney capped off a mini 5-0 run to give
the Knights a 35-30 lead with 2:53 left on the clock.
not putting a single point on the board for the first 4:11 of the final period,
Castle would not trail. Senior Lynn McKinney capped off a mini 5-0 run to give
the Knights a 35-30 lead with 2:53 left on the clock.
York
responded with her fourth 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game again at
35-33, but the Knights put together another 5-0 run to go ahead 40-33 with 36
ticks to go. Senior Stephanie Gehlhausen and junior Jasmine Ussery each hit a
pair of free throws to ice the contest during the final spurt.
responded with her fourth 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game again at
35-33, but the Knights put together another 5-0 run to go ahead 40-33 with 36
ticks to go. Senior Stephanie Gehlhausen and junior Jasmine Ussery each hit a
pair of free throws to ice the contest during the final spurt.
Senior
Katelyn Smith scored all 11 of her points in the first half to lead Castle in
scoring. She was joined in double figures by Ussery, who chipped in 10.
Katelyn Smith scored all 11 of her points in the first half to lead Castle in
scoring. She was joined in double figures by Ussery, who chipped in 10.
Despite a
rough shooting night (5 of 19), York
led the Royals and all scorers with 15 points.
rough shooting night (5 of 19), York
led the Royals and all scorers with 15 points.
Points
were extremely hard to come by through the first 24 minutes, and even harder
for the Royals. Hamilton Southeastern started off the game by scoring only six
points on 2-of-14 shooting in the first 11:19 of action.
were extremely hard to come by through the first 24 minutes, and even harder
for the Royals. Hamilton Southeastern started off the game by scoring only six
points on 2-of-14 shooting in the first 11:19 of action.
The Royals
did not reach double figures until the 3:42 mark of the second quarter, yet surprisingly
trailed by just four at 13-9 as Castle was certainly not tearing up the nets,
either. Castle was able to build a 22-12 halftime lead by taking advantage of
its opportunities at the line.
did not reach double figures until the 3:42 mark of the second quarter, yet surprisingly
trailed by just four at 13-9 as Castle was certainly not tearing up the nets,
either. Castle was able to build a 22-12 halftime lead by taking advantage of
its opportunities at the line.
The
Knights shot as many free throws (12) as it did field goal attempts in the
first half. Four Knights combined to shoot 10 of 12 from the charity stripe,
while Southeastern shot just three and connected on only one.
Knights shot as many free throws (12) as it did field goal attempts in the
first half. Four Knights combined to shoot 10 of 12 from the charity stripe,
while Southeastern shot just three and connected on only one.
With only
34 points scored in the first half, the offensive flow had no where to go but
up in the second half � Or did it?
34 points scored in the first half, the offensive flow had no where to go but
up in the second half � Or did it?
The Royals
and Knights combined to try a total of only 10 field goal attempts in the third
quarter:
and Knights combined to try a total of only 10 field goal attempts in the third
quarter:
- Only
five of the attempts were successful. - Hamilton
Southeastern took only two shots from the floor in the first 4:05. - Castle
took only four shots (hitting two), but made four free throws.
When the painful-to-watch
quarter was over, the Knights had outscored the Royals, 8-7.
quarter was over, the Knights had outscored the Royals, 8-7.
Hamilton
Southeastern did not record 10 or more points in a quarter until the fourth,
when it nearly matched its entire offensive output through 24 minutes (17 points
compared with 19 over the first three periods).
Southeastern did not record 10 or more points in a quarter until the fourth,
when it nearly matched its entire offensive output through 24 minutes (17 points
compared with 19 over the first three periods).
Processing your request, Please wait....
