By Murray Gleffe, Correspondent
ASHWAUBENON-The Jaguar girls’ basketball team jumped out to an early lead and never looked back on their way to a 52-16 victory over the Sheboygan South Redwings (Jan. 19).
It is the 5th straight victory for the Jaguars who started the season 5-5.
Lydia Schaible and Megan Servais each scored 14 points, and Maddie Koch added 6.
The Jaguar bench contributed 25 points while the Redwings had only 6.
The Jaguars held the Redwings to five field goal makes the entire game.
“We’ve put a greater emphasis to defend hard in games,” said Jaguar Basketball Coach Nicky VanLaanen. “We got away from that when we lost those two games, but I feel like we have really stepped up these last few games on that side of the ball.”
Servais and Koch started quickly with post touches and finishes to give the Jaguars an early 12-2 lead with 10:08 left in the first half.
The offense was efficient to start the game, but the real reason the Jaguars kept increasing their lead on the Redwings was the play of their ‘defense’.
Steals, outlets, and finished lay-ups were the name of the game during the latter part of the first half.
In all, the Jaguars forced 27 turnovers on the Redwings.
Peyton Wright connected on back to back possessions to give the home team a commanding 22-3 lead with just 6:12 left till intermission.
Just before half, Schaible corralled two offensive rebounds and powered both of them up strong for her team.
“I was extremely proud of Lydia’s performance on this night,” VanLaanen commented. “Our assistant coaches have worked with her on how to become wider in the post. I thought she played a very physical game and in turn she got to double digits for points.”
Bitz Steinhoff got into the scoring column as she hit a beautiful runner in the lane as the halftime horn sounded. It put the Jaguars up 38-10.
The Jaguars kept the pedal down and increased their lead to 38 points with 8:41 left in the game.
Guard Addison Stromberg came in off the Jaguar bench and hit a corner jumper to start the mandated running clock (with a 40-point lead).
“We have to have our bench continue to develop,” VanLaanen said. “We were able to give those kids multiple minutes this evening and hopefully they learned and felt the flow of the game.”
The Jaguars coasted from there with Remi Lade, McKenna Engebose, Elyse Ark, Madi Appleton, and Jazzlyn James playing the last five minutes of the ball game.
The Jaguars improve to 10-5 overall and 8-3 in the FRCC (one game back of Bay Port and Notre Dame).
“Our philosophy won’t change that we’re back in the FRCC race,” said VanLaanen. “Our goal is to compete hard in our next practice and win the next game in line for us. Every team that we face to end the season will give their best shot against us. We can’t have a single let down in any of them.”
Sheboygan South/Ashwaubenon Box Score
Sheboygan South 10,6,-16
Ashwaubenon 38,14,-52
Redwing Totals: FG’s 5-23, 3 PT FG’s 1-4, FT’s 5-8, Rebounds 19, Assists 4, Steals 3, Blocks 1, Turnovers 27, Personal Fouls 12
Horen 5, Pfile 4, Bushi 3, Stricker 2, Boldt 1, Lloyd 1
Jaguar Totals: FG’s 20-45, 3 PT FG’s 1-11, FT’s 11-12, Rebounds 19, Assists 14, Steals 16, Blocks 1, Turnovers 12, Personal Fouls 7
Schaible 14, Servais 14, Koch 6, Wright 5, VanLaanen 4, Stromberg 3, Steinhoff 2, Schlader 2, Engebose 2
