By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor
LAWRENCE â??? Corydonâ??s fundamentals clinic in Game 4 of the third annual Lawrence Central Shootout proved to be far too much for turnover-prone Huntington North Dec. 28 as the Class 3A No. 5 Panthers rolled to a 13-point victory that was far greater than the 55-42 final score shows.
Time and again, Corydon would smoothly move the ball, making the extra pass to find an extraordinarily high-percentage shot or get to the foul line. Huntington North, meanwhile, spent too much time dribbling the ball and never got untracked in bumbling its way to 21 turnovers.
The gameâ??s opening possession â??? where Huntington could not get a shot off for a full minute against Corydonâ??s zone, then committed turnover #1 â??? served as a precursor for all that would follow. Three of the Vikingsâ?? first four possessions ended in turnovers, and Huntington made six in an opening period that ended with Corydon up, 16-6.
Eight of those Panther points came on four easy layins that resulted from that crisp, extra pass to an open teammate. Many of the points [and passes came from 5â??11â? senior forward Stannye Wolfe, Corydonâ??s dominant force in the paint who led all scorers with 19 points.
â??Stannye is an outstanding passer â??? she passes like a point guard,â? said Corydon coach Michael Uhl, whose Panthers lost in the 3A championship game last season to South Bend St. Josephâ??s. â??We had an Indiana All-Star (Dana Beaven) down low last year and Stannye was the high post.
â??Now sheâ??s learning how to play low post.â?
Huntington made its one run midway through the second stanza when, after trailing 18-6, the Vikings went on a 9-2 run that got them within 20-15. Despite six Corydon turnovers in the period, though, the Vikings managed only 2-of-10 shooting the rest of the way before halftime came with Corydon up, 27-20.
The cold shooting was particularly problematic for Huntington North 5â??9â? senior forward Julie Stetzel, who suffered through a miserable 1-for-9 effort in the first half â??? all on wide-open jumpers that simply would not fall. Her obvious frustration peaked when her finals shot of the half was blocked as time expired.
An 18-6 advantage for Corydon in the third quarter (two layins, a pair of buckets in the lane, three 3-pointers, and a free throw) transformed that seven-point halftime lead into a monstrous 45-26 margin after three. There was no doubt about the outcome at this point, not with Huntington North unable to find second shots and the Panthers completely controlling the boards.
â??We got a lot of second-chance and third-chance points,â? Uhl said. â??That was big, because everybody we play in gonna outsize us.â?
Corydon improved to 8-1 with the win, while Huntington North fell to 7-3.
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