Lady Whippets race by Colonel Crawford
Daily Globe Sports Editor
Shelby ran off 15 unanswered points in the opening quarter and rolled to a 66-45 non-conference girls basketball victory against Colonel Crawford Monday evening.
The Lady Whippets improved their seasonal slate to 2-3 as the home team rode a 21-2 tear at the onset to seize control of the game. The Eagles, coached by SHS graduate Kyle (Payne) Fenner, dropped to 4-3 with the setback in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
“We had a great start. I told the girls to focus on defense and be more disciplined on offense. We did a really good job of opening kids up and getting really great looks,” said red and gray coach Natalie Lantz.
The visitors grabbed a 2-0 lead on a bucket by Hannah Plesac in the opening 17 seconds of the contest, but the advantage was shortlived.
Olivia Baker’s corner three at the 6:45 mark put Shelby ahead to stay and was part of a three-point barrage during the opening eight minutes.
Baker would lead the Whippets with 21 points and knocked down a pair of triples early. She also grabbed nine rebounds in the win. Treys during the first eight minutes were also courtesy of Sophia Niese and Mya Seibert.
Consecutive layins by Niese, who ended the evening with 15 markers, stretched the SHS lead to 21-4 at the 2:09 mark of the opening period.
Colonel Crawford would pull within six (21-15) on a bucket by Mallory Plesac, but Seibert’s triple made it 24-15 at the first break. The red and gray were able to build a lead despite having foul difficulties and four players with two fouls apiece.
Shelby upped their advantage to 18 during quarter No. 2 and was in front 39-22 at the intermission
Audi Albert’s shot just outside of the lane gave the Whippets their biggest lead of the night at 27 (51-24) during the third frame.
SHS led 54-29 entering the fourth.
All nine players scored for Shelby.
Leading the Eagles were Allison Teglovic and Kaylyn Risner with 15 and 10, respectively.
Haylee Baker handed out six assists and Niese picked up five steals.
“The girls are starting to come together more offensively. We ran transition well and had good ball movement,” said Lantz.
Wednesday afternoon the Whippets travel to Galion for a Mid Ohio Athletic Conference game.
M. Plesac 1 0 2, Hocker 0 3 3, Maddy 2 1 6, H. Plesac 2 2 7, Risner 3 4 10, Teglovic 6 3 15, Horner 1 0 2, Totals 15 13 45.
COLONEL CRAWFORD (45)
SHELBY (66)
Hipp 2 2 6, Mayer 2 4 8, H. Baker 1 0 2, Niese 7 0 15, Albert 2 0 4, S. Seibert 2 0 4, M. Seibert 1 0 3, Gwirtz 1 0 3, O. Baker 8 2 21, Totals 26 8 66.
Crawford ........... 15 7 7 16 —45 Shelby ............... 24151512—66
Three-point field goals — Maddy (C), H. Plesac (C), Niese (S), M. Seibert (S), Gwirtz (S), O. Baker (S) 3.