LBI: Inside the Game Summary

2016 Catholic High School League Play

“Mercy Hangs On in Defensive Battle to Win 5 Straight”

Tuesday February 2, 2016

Farmington Hills Mercy High School

Despite a rainy and cold Tuesday night in Farmington Hills Michigan, two defensives facing off inside Mercy High School would be hot.   Mercy, with a 4 game winning streak, took on the Marian High School Mustangs.

Both teams came out strong on defense, not a single point was scored by either team in the opening 2 and a half minutes.  Finally the offenses would heat up as Marian Junior Maria Kaschalk knocked down a couple triples in the 1st quarter.  She would lead her team on the night with 8 points.  Meanwhile it would be the Marlins who would end the quarter with a 1 point lead thanks to Senior Captain Zora Pullen.  She got a jump shot and a foul as well as a triple in the 1st, Mercy led 9-8.

The Marlins would then turn it over to their defense in the 2nd quarter.  They shut Marian out for almost 5 minutes after the break as they put together a 7-1 run.  Mercy continued to lead 15-12 at the half.

Coming out of the locker rooms both teams began to get aggressive on defense.  Both teams began to foul and Marian made the most of their free throws as they were able to tie the score at 21.  However, after a 4 minute scoring drought, Mercy would come back with a triple by Junior Guard Jackie Bauer and then another triple from Junior Guard Chloe Godbold.  Mercy still lead at the end of the third quarter, 23-21.

The Marlins would continue to stay in the driver’s seat with a triple by Senior Guard Jordyn Schluter early in the final quarter but Marian wasn’t done yet.  With 4:10 to go Junior Lauren Montalbano gets the pick and roll to cut the Marlins lead to 2.  Unfortunately, they would come no closer.  Mercy extends their winning streak to 5 winning 32-25.

Mercy continues to lead the Central Division with a 6-1 record, Marian falls to 5-3.

Leading scorers for the night: Mercy: Zora Pullen 12, Katie Bryce 6, Jordyn Schluter 3

Marian: Maria Kaschalk 8, Lauren Montalbano 4, Elizabeth Grobbel 2, Madeline Laurencelle 2

Game and Team Highlights

Mercy:

• Zora Pullen was a major key on offense leading her team with a game high 12 points, some coming in the paint, some on jump shots and even getting a triple in the 1st.
• The Marlins did well as a team on defense especially in the 2nd quarter by shutting out Marian for the first 5 minutes of the quarter.

Marian:

• The Mustangs also did well on defense, their biggest stand came in the 3rd where they shutout Mercy for the first 4 minutes.
• Lauren Montalbano had the best looking play of the night on a late pick and roll and finished it off with a nice layup.