January 26, 1999

Calvert delivers knockout punch in final quarter

By Ed Fox
Sports Writer

Calvert girls waited until the fourth quarter before delivering the KO to Cardinal Stritch Monday night.

The Senecas had a 23-11 lead at intermission only to watch Stritch score 17 points in the third quarter to get within seven (35-28).

But, Calvert scored the first 17 points of the final period and went on to a 57-32 win, its 11th in 12 outings this season.

''I think we were flat out of step tonight. I think we were out of sync and our timing was off,'' said Calvert mentor Jim Kuhn. ''As a coach, I was trying a lot of different combinations and be patient and get through some of those mental errors. We just have to get more focused.''

Seniors Sara Riley and Lisa Kuhn led the way for the Senecas with 15 and 12 points respectively and sophomore Sabrina Seitz was close to doubles with eight.

''Sara Riley had a nice game. Lisa came back and we tried to get her some minutes,'' Kuhn said. ''She had 12 points and this is the first time she's played in six games. Once she played a little bit, she seemed to be more comfortable with things.''

Lisa Kuhn entered the game with 2:55 left in the first quarter and the teams deadlocked at 4-4. She scored four points the rest of the period and Seitz chipped in with a 3-pointer as the Senecas scored the final eight points of the quarter for a 12-4 lead.

Stephanie Borer hit a couple buckets and Riley added a trey as the Senecas had an 11-7 advantage in the second quarter to take a 23-11 halftime lead.

But, a different Stritch team took the floor in the third quarter.

Sparked by 10 points from Jennifer LaPlante, who finished as Stritch's leading scorer with 12, the Cardinals were able to chip away at the Calvert lead and got as close as six (27-21 and 29-23). The visitors were only down seven (35-28) as the fourth quarter got underway.

The Senecas, who visit Fremont St. Joe in a key Midland Athletic League battle Thursday, answered the challenge with a 17-0 run over the first five minutes of the fourth quarter as Stritch didn't score until Michelle Saunders knocked down a pair of free throws with 2:44 to go in the contest.

Leading the way in the spurt by the Senecas were Kristen Kastner with a pair of putbacks, Lisa Kuhn added four points, Riley scored two buckets including once off a turnover and Laura Kuhn added a layup off a turnover. Seitz scored on a fast break and Amanda Lucius added a free throw.

''When they (Stritch) were doing well in the third quarter, Sara stepped up but she's our go-to player. She realized they had a little run going and she came back and got the rest of the players involved in the play. She did a good job passing the ball to Sabrina and Lisa.

''I was pleased with the strong finish and the fact that everyone got to play. You like to get everyone in. The execution wasn't always there. Seitz contributed eight points. She just has to get her confidence built with court sense. Laura Kuhns has to become more of an offensive factor and Kastner had some big moments,'' said Kuhn.

Calvert was 24-of-58 from the floor while Stritch was just 13-of-48. The Cardinals were 8-of-15 in the third quarter and 5-of-33 the rest of the game.

''The difference was that they (Calvert) had more talent,'' said Stritch head coach Bill Ramsdell. ''We were doing a pretty good job on the boards early, but the foul trouble to our big girls really hurt.

''We haven't played much lately and this is only our eighth game (2-6) and Ithink our shooting has been affected by the layoff,'' said Ramsdell.