By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor
LAWRENCE â??? Marion County champion Pike found itself in a 20-7 hole early on in Game 3 of the third annual Lawrence Central Shootout against Class 3A No. 3 Evansville Memorial. But the Red Devils never panicked Dec. 28, going on an 8-0 run to get back in the game.
After taking a 33-32 lead just before halftime on a gorgeous behind-the-back pass from senior guard Ashley Barlow to backcourt classmate Dior Williams, this one remained a one-possession game practically the rest of the way before Class 4A No. 14 Pike (11-3) pulled away in the gameâ??s final minute for a 69-63 victory.
The exciting second half superseded a showdown between standout guards bound for Indiana colleges next year: Pikeâ??s 5â??9â? scoring machine, Barlow (Notre Dame), and Memorialâ??s 5â??5â? passing wizard Fakhara Malone (Purdue).
Barlow ended up with 24 points and the highlight-reel assist, while Malone finished with 18 points and countless assists that brought to mind the kind of rare passing talent beheld by a young Scott Skiles.
â??Weâ??ve had her for four years,â? Evansville Memorial coach Bruce Dockery said of Malone. â??The scary thing is weâ??re gonna lose her (to Purdue).â?
Pike coach Reggie White was even more succinct about the Evansville floor general.
â??I think Malone is a culture shock!â? White said.
Pike outscored Memorial 24-10 in the second quarter after quickening the tempo and forcing the Tigers into nine turnovers in the period, including one seven-in-eight-possession stretch.
â??Thatâ??s what we do â??? go up-tempo and force turnovers,â? said Pike coach Reggie White. â??We told our kids to keep playing because we have been a slow-starting team the last five games (following the county title).â?
Dockery, meanwhile, was hopeful that his team simply was â??a little rustyâ? because of a layoff thatâ??s seen Memorial play only one game since Dec. 1 due to weather postponements.
â??We just didnâ??t take care of the ball,â? Dockery said. â??We had to make adjustments to their press because we had too many turnovers in a row.
The great thing is, this was our first real competition.â?
In addition to Maloneâ??s 18 points, Evansville Memorial got 15 points from 6â??1â? sophomore center Chelsea Falkenstein and 13 more from senior guard Courtney Reising.
For Pike, the 5â??8â? Williams complemented Barlowâ??s 24 with 17 points of her own, while senior guard Ashley Thomas added 10 points and 10 rebounds. And bulky 6-foot senior center Jessica Gordon also had a lot of success in out-physicalling the Tigers, roaming the lane and bodying up to whatever extent she felt necessary as the refs let â??em play.
â??They handled us pretty well on the boards,â? Dockery said. â??At halftime, we talked about getting physically tougher. Our best rebounder (5â??8â? senior forward Ebony Ricketts) was hurt early in the first quarter with a possible ACL.
â??When our post player went out, we had to go with a freshman and junior varsity post player.â?
The Pike â??O,â? though, clearly runs on the 1-2 petroleum punch of Barlow and Williams.
â??Ashleyâ??s a tremendous basketball payer and a tremendous person,â? White said. â??Most people picture (her as solely) a shooter, but she is a kid who also gets others involved.â?
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