Coyotes use strong first quarter to separate themselves from Knights
DUNNING - The Class D1 No. 5 Anselmo-Merna girls basketball team used a good start to the game to defeat Sandhills-Thedford 61-46 on the road in Dunning on Jan. 14.
“Second chance points made a huge difference,” Anselmo-Merna Coach Trenton Kirchmann said. “Our rebounding has made a difference all year and when our girls are maybe having a bit of an off night shooting, their tenacious rebounding makes up for it.”
Scoring the first points of the game was Kaitlyn Jacquot underneath for the Coyotes. Jaide Chandler was able to convert a layup in transition and Claire Cooksley made a layup off a turnover to stretch A-M’s lead to 6-3.
Emily Leach supplied the offense for the Knights in the early going. She made a layup off a steal and then made a long two to make it 8-5 in favor of A-M.
The Coyotes offense continued to click on all cylinders as Kirsten Myers made a three-pointer straight on and Hadlee Safranek knocked down two free throws. After a layup by Chandler, the score was 15-5.
Taylor Weber cut into that lead on the next possession for S-T, by making a shot that was deemed a two after she stepped over the three-point line.
With little time left in the quarter, Weber was fouled on a three attempt. At the line she made all three free throws bringing the score to 21-10 after a quarter of action.
Freshman Dayle Haake jumpstarted the Knights offense to begin the second by converting a basket underneath. Weber made it a ten-point game at 26-16 after she made a three-pointer and layup on consecutive possessions.
Despite S-T best effort, A-M still dominated in the second chance opportunity category. The Coyotes had 23 offensive boards compared to the Knights 14.
This was put on display at the end of the second when Jacquot scored on a second chance opportunity. At the break, A-M clung to a 34-20 advantage.
Jacquot continued her dominant performance in the second by scoring the first four points of the quarter. After a three by Tenley Rassmussen for S-T, Chandler answered back with one of her own for the Coyotes.
A three up top by Cylee Jameson for the Knights made it a thirteen point game at 41-28.
To end the third, A-M and S-T traded buckets. First, Haake was able to bank in a jumper for the Knights and then Macy Miller stole an inbounds pass and converted into a layup to make it 48-33 at the end of the third.
Leading 53-38, Shaylyn Safranek had baskets on back to back possessions for the Coyotes midway through the fourth. She first made a mid-range jumper and then followed it up with a layup.
The Knights were able to build a little momentum heading into their next game when Emily Martindale connected on a three-pointer to end the game.
“I thought offensively we played well, we were able to knock some shots down from the outside which we were struggling with before Christmas break,” S-T Coach Josh Deines said.
“Hopefully we can continue to improve from the outside like we have the past couple of games. Anselmo-Merna is a really good team and their physicality gave us a lot of problems, especially when rebounding the ball. We need to improve in that area when we’re playing talented teams like A-M.”
Leading A-M in scoring on the night was Jacquot with 15 points and Shaylyn Safraenk and Chandler with 13 points. Chandler was also able to pull down 14 rebounds and Jacquot had 11 rebounds.
The only player in double figures for S-T was Weber with 11 points, followed by Haake with nine points. Haake paced the team in boards with 13 and Jameson and Rasmussen both had five.
A-M took on S-E-M at home on Jan. 19 and S-T has a home game vs Hyannis in Thedford at 6 p.m. on Jan. 21.