Staff Intern
INDIANAPOLIS â??? If it were up to Indianapolis Chatard coach Kevin Sweeney, Taâ??Shia Phillips would be named Miss Basketball when the season ends.
That assessment came Jan. 26 after Phillipsâ?? Class 3A seventh-ranked Brebeuf Braves thumped Sweeneyâ??s undermanned 3A No. 9 host Trojans, 63-46. The Braves (16-5) were led by the Phillipsâ?? 20 points as she dominated the paint, towering over the smaller Chatard players to block shots and pull down rebounds.
The Trojans were at a big disadvantage with starters Caroline Schutzman (14 points a game) and Kelly Gardner (23 points, 10 rebounds per) out with injuries, leaving the other â??outsized and outmannedâ? Trojans to deal with the 6â??6â? Phillips.
Sweeney said the plan was to double down on Phillips to try and contain her and not let her get too deep into the post. But that tactic was foiled when other Brebeuf players â??? namely sophomore guard Lauren Meadows (13 points) and Callie Curry (nine) â??? stepped up to knock down shots.
Brebeuf built a 23-point lead going into the fourth quarter, when Braves coach Kendall Kreinhagen said the Braves got a little too comfortable after playing solid for the first three quarters.
Sweeney thought Chatard (15-4) stayed even with the Braves in the second half, but he pointed out that you need to play four quarters to win. Anne Boese led Chatard with a game-high 24 points, with Megan Gardner adding 11 and Jenny Traub seven.
â??Our kids kept fighting and didnâ??t quit, and Iâ??m proud of them,â? Sweeney said, â??Iâ??m proud of their effort and Iâ??m proud of their attitude.â?
The Braves, who lost their first two games of the season and opened at only 3-3, have now won nine straight and look primed to make a run deep into the 3A tournament. Kreinhagen knows the team will have to stay focused and was happy with the way her team responded to Chatardâ??s defense.
â??Theyâ??re a Top 10 team, theyâ??re a good team, and they are well coached,â? Kreinhagen said. â??It is great to play them now, going into the tournament, because you are going to face tough defensive teams like Chatard in the tournament.â?
Brebeuf next faces 4A No. 7 Ben Davis in the Bravesâ??â?? regular-season finale Jan. 31 before opening the Danville Sectional. Chatard hosts Park Tudor Jan. 29 and travels to Indianapolis Broad Ripple Feb. 1 before heading to the Beech Grove sectional.
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