February 19, 1999

Showdown results in Chieftain victory

By Dave Feltner
Sports Editor

It was supposed to be a showdown. You know the kind, like at the O.K. Corral.

But when Hopewell-Loudon and Calvert met Thursday night to decide the Midland Athletic League championship, the only guns that were blazing were those of the Chieftains.

It was a victory in typical Hopewell-Loudon fashion &emdash; blow 'em away with one big run.

The Chieftains turned what was a competitive game into a mauling by scoring the final 14 points of the first half of a 78-41 MAL-clinching victory.

''I definitely thought we had the team to do it,'' H-L coach Doug Reynolds said of the 37-point win. ''And you could tell, just like we did with (New Riegel's Renee) Lafontaine the other night, that we caused a lot of problems for them. Laura Kuhn stepped up for them and hit some big shots, but overall defensively I thought we did an excellent job.''

Excellent defense on this night meant two big things. First, the Chieftains (19-1, 10-0) limited Sara Riley to just five points (she had scored 59 in Calvert's last two games). Second, Calvert was harassed into a stunning 46 turnovers.

''We stuck to our game plan; we just couldn't handle their pressure,'' Calvert coach Jim Kuhn said. ''Everybody's had problems with it all year. We knew we had to pass through it, but sometimes we just didn't make good decisions.

''You've got to stay focused until you get the job done,'' he said. ''You have to stay focused until you get the shot. It just wasn't going to happen for us tonight.''

That wasn't the case in the game's early stages.

The Senecas (18-2, 9-1) were within 17-13 at the first stop, and when Amanda Lucius scored along the baseline and followed with a pair at the line, Calvert was within 20-17.

But back at the Hopewell-Loudon end, DiDi Reynolds (22 points, 13 rebounds) had an open layup, but was pushed from behind by Riley. The ensuing intentional foul resulted in both head coaches jawing face-to-face in front of the scorer's table, not to mention one wild gymnasium.

DiDi Reynolds hit both foul shots, and on the same possession Carrie Norris (12 points) buried a baseline jumper to make it 24-17. From that point on the Chieftains were in complete control.

''Both sides got excited,'' coach Reynolds said of the intentional foul. ''We were just able to use it to our advantage. Why? I don't know. Both sides were excited. You would think it would affect both teams.''

Calvert's only points in the final six minutes of the first half came on a Kristen Kastner putback at the 5:19 mark. That made it 25-19, but the Chieftains rattled off the final 14 points of the half, including eight at the foul line.

Kara Johnson, DiDi Reynolds and Lindsay Borer all pitched in baskets during the run that gave H-L a 39-19 lead at halftime.

Calvert's slump spilled over into the third quarter. The Senecas scored just four points in the first six minutes of the second half, while Hopewell-Loudon was building a 54-25 advantage.

Kate Gase (11 points), Susie Norris (11) and Lindsay Borer (10) gave Hopewell-Loudon five double-figure scorers.

Laura Kuhn was Calvert's only double-figure scorer. She finished with 12 points. Sabrina Seitz scored eight for the Senecas and Amanda Lucius six. Kastner gathered in 12 rebounds.

''We just got frustrated because we couldn't break that pressure,'' coach Kuhn said. ''We just weren't disciplined enough to do it. Our half-court offense was excellent, but our passes against the pressure just weren't effective.

''But what can I say? Laura Kuhn played a heck of game,'' he said. ''Kristen Kastner played tough all night. Those two sophomores deserve praise. Sara Riley, I couldn't ask for a better floor leader. And Lisa Kuhn gave it her all. I support these girls all the way. Hey, 18-2. That's not too bad.''

Just a couple guns short at the big showdown.