By Brandon
Jones
Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH ââ?¬â?? Two and a half weeks ago, the Knights of Lafayette Central Catholic were
11-10 entering sectional play and not playing up to potential, according to coach
Geoff Salmon.
11-10 entering sectional play and not playing up to potential, according to coach
Geoff Salmon.
Well, 18
days and six wins later, the Knights (17-10) will be making the trip down I-65
to Conseco Fieldhouse to play for the Class A state championship, thanks in
part to great defense and a storybook-type run through the IHSAA girls
basketball state tournament.
days and six wins later, the Knights (17-10) will be making the trip down I-65
to Conseco Fieldhouse to play for the Class A state championship, thanks in
part to great defense and a storybook-type run through the IHSAA girls
basketball state tournament.
The latest
victim: Class A No. 9 Argos. In front of nearly 4,500 fans Feb. 25 at Plymouth High School, Salmon�s squad downed the
Dragons, 65-53.
victim: Class A No. 9 Argos. In front of nearly 4,500 fans Feb. 25 at Plymouth High School, Salmon�s squad downed the
Dragons, 65-53.
One could
tell from the beginning that Argos
was going to have to earn every inch of the basketball court as the Knights
played stifling defense on the perimeter, forcing many bad decisions by the undersized
and inexperienced Dragon guards.
tell from the beginning that Argos
was going to have to earn every inch of the basketball court as the Knights
played stifling defense on the perimeter, forcing many bad decisions by the undersized
and inexperienced Dragon guards.
Neither
team led by more than one possession in the opening quarter of play, but
catalyst Jenna Jones sparked the Knights late in the period as she connected on
back-to-back 3-pointers as Catholic held a 13-10 advantage after the opening
eight minutes of play.
team led by more than one possession in the opening quarter of play, but
catalyst Jenna Jones sparked the Knights late in the period as she connected on
back-to-back 3-pointers as Catholic held a 13-10 advantage after the opening
eight minutes of play.
That was
just the springboard that the Knights would need as they came out in the second
quarter with a vengeance. Junior Kate Pechin connected on consecutive jumpers just
21 seconds into the second quarter of play to stretch the lead to seven. She
then came back (after a pair of free throws by Argos junior Amberly O�Dell) to connect on a
3-pointer from the left wing.
just the springboard that the Knights would need as they came out in the second
quarter with a vengeance. Junior Kate Pechin connected on consecutive jumpers just
21 seconds into the second quarter of play to stretch the lead to seven. She
then came back (after a pair of free throws by Argos junior Amberly O�Dell) to connect on a
3-pointer from the left wing.
The
environment was rocking at Plymouth as Central Catholic
stretched the lead to eight at 20-12, and Argos
skipper Rochelle Newell was forced to take a timeout. Things did not get much
better out of the break for Argos,
though, as the Knight guards were playing with a level of intensity that the
Dragons simply could not match.
environment was rocking at Plymouth as Central Catholic
stretched the lead to eight at 20-12, and Argos
skipper Rochelle Newell was forced to take a timeout. Things did not get much
better out of the break for Argos,
though, as the Knight guards were playing with a level of intensity that the
Dragons simply could not match.
Jones,
Pechin, and now senior forward Kathleen Mills were getting any shot they wanted
from any spot on the floor, and Central Catholic outscored Argos 8-5 over the
final two-minute stretch in extending its lead to double digits, 28-17, at
intermission.
Pechin, and now senior forward Kathleen Mills were getting any shot they wanted
from any spot on the floor, and Central Catholic outscored Argos 8-5 over the
final two-minute stretch in extending its lead to double digits, 28-17, at
intermission.
Mills was
just getting warmed up. A huge nine-point third quarter by the senior stretched
the lead for LCC. The advantage would balloon to as many as 15 points late in
the period as Argos began running out of firepower, and the Knights held a
45-30 lead just eight minutes away from Indianapolis.
just getting warmed up. A huge nine-point third quarter by the senior stretched
the lead for LCC. The advantage would balloon to as many as 15 points late in
the period as Argos began running out of firepower, and the Knights held a
45-30 lead just eight minutes away from Indianapolis.
But Argos had other thoughts.
Newell�s girls played like they had their backs to the wall, which they did. The
Dragons scored 10 of the first 12 points in the fourth quarter to pull within
seven at 47-40. The Argos
contingent, easily numbering 2,000 fans, began to believe in their team as they
stood and cheered loudly.
Newell�s girls played like they had their backs to the wall, which they did. The
Dragons scored 10 of the first 12 points in the fourth quarter to pull within
seven at 47-40. The Argos
contingent, easily numbering 2,000 fans, began to believe in their team as they
stood and cheered loudly.
That
would be as close as the Dragons would get. The Knights responded with a late-quarter
7-0 spurt of their own to put the contest out of reach at 58-44.
would be as close as the Dragons would get. The Knights responded with a late-quarter
7-0 spurt of their own to put the contest out of reach at 58-44.
The rest
was mathematical as the clock would not allow Argos enough time to make another run. Free
throws determined the rest of the scoring for Central Catholic in the 12-point
final margin.
was mathematical as the clock would not allow Argos enough time to make another run. Free
throws determined the rest of the scoring for Central Catholic in the 12-point
final margin.
Mills led
the way for Lafayette Central Catholic with 22 points, while Pechin added 14
and Jones had 11.
the way for Lafayette Central Catholic with 22 points, while Pechin added 14
and Jones had 11.
For Argos (22-5), O�Dell also
had 22 points from her guard spot, while Desiree Gilbert added 14 and freshman
Kelsie Hollenbaugh 11. The Dragons undoubtedly will be a force to be reckoned
with in the future as they return all five starters next season.
had 22 points from her guard spot, while Desiree Gilbert added 14 and freshman
Kelsie Hollenbaugh 11. The Dragons undoubtedly will be a force to be reckoned
with in the future as they return all five starters next season.
But the
present belonged to Lafayette Central Catholic, which will face South Central
(Elizabeth) in the Class A championship game March 4 in downtown
Indy.
present belonged to Lafayette Central Catholic, which will face South Central
(Elizabeth) in the Class A championship game March 4 in downtown
Indy.
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