By Colin Altevogt
Girls Basketball Coordinator
NEW CASTLE – With standout guard Corie West fatigued and laboring,
New Castle coach Curt Bell called a timeout with 5:50 remaining and the
game between his 3A No. 2 Trojans and Franklin Central tied at 45.
New Castle coach Curt Bell called a timeout with 5:50 remaining and the
game between his 3A No. 2 Trojans and Franklin Central tied at 45.
The maneuver paid off. Following the break, West knocked down a
three with a hand in her face, stole the ball on Franklin Centralâ??s
next possession and dished to an open teammate for another triple.
three with a hand in her face, stole the ball on Franklin Centralâ??s
next possession and dished to an open teammate for another triple.
Westâ??s play highlighted a quick 9-0 New Castle run that enabled
the host Trojans to advance to the championship game of the Hall of
Fame Classic, 61-54.
the host Trojans to advance to the championship game of the Hall of
Fame Classic, 61-54.
Click here to watch a video montage from
both of the first-round matchups: Franklin Central vs.
Castle
(NOTE: To watch the video, you may need QuickTime 7.1. For a free
download, click here.)
â??Sheâ??s asked
to do an awful lot,â? Bell said of his senior guard. â??Sheâ??s done all the
little things we need from her as a floor general, and she doesnâ??t
get rattled out there.â?
New Castle stormed out to an early first quarter lead off the
strength of seven first quarter points by sophomore forward Macey
Elyea. Using an old-fashioned set shot, Elyea was 4-of-6 from beyond
the arc in the first half.
strength of seven first quarter points by sophomore forward Macey
Elyea. Using an old-fashioned set shot, Elyea was 4-of-6 from beyond
the arc in the first half.
After one, the Trojans led 16-7 and appeared headed for a runaway victory.
Franklin Central, however, had other ideas. Boosted by the
entrance of defensive ace Chanel Simmons, the Flashes forced nine
second quarter turnovers. Down by nine, Franklin Central went on an 8-0
run in the last minute to take some momentum to the locker room.
entrance of defensive ace Chanel Simmons, the Flashes forced nine
second quarter turnovers. Down by nine, Franklin Central went on an 8-0
run in the last minute to take some momentum to the locker room.
â??She is very athletic,â? Bell said of Simmons. â??We had to gather
ourselves at halftime and talk about (Franklin Centralâ??s late burst.)â?
ourselves at halftime and talk about (Franklin Centralâ??s late burst.)â?
At the half, New Castle had already committed 12 turnovers but had
shot 5-of-9 from three-point range. The Trojans led 27-26 after two
quarters.
shot 5-of-9 from three-point range. The Trojans led 27-26 after two
quarters.
With New Castle up one, West hit a long three from nearly NBA
range. Franklin Central scored four straight to tie the contest before
Trojan center Allison Reese put back her own miss before the end of the
third quarter. Heading into the final quarter, New Castle was up just
two, 43-41.
range. Franklin Central scored four straight to tie the contest before
Trojan center Allison Reese put back her own miss before the end of the
third quarter. Heading into the final quarter, New Castle was up just
two, 43-41.
Two minutes into the fourth, Franklin Centralâ??s Katie Hacker put
back a miss to tie the game. Then West went to work and it was lights
out for the Flashes.
back a miss to tie the game. Then West went to work and it was lights
out for the Flashes.
Hacker led all scorers with 21 points. Elyea scored 19 for New
Castle. West added 17 points and six assists while Reese had 17 points
and seven boards.
Castle. West added 17 points and six assists while Reese had 17 points
and seven boards.
So
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