LBI: Inside the Game Summary

2016 Catholic League Semi Finals

“Saddlelites Comeback Comes Up Short”

Wednesday February 17, 2016

Detroit Catholic Central High School

Game 2 featured the 11-5 (6-2) Regina Saddlelites and the 9-5 (5-3) Marian Mustangs.  The winner would get a Sunday matchup at University of Detroit’s Callahan Hall against Farmington Hills Mercy.

Both teams would start this one about even as Regina would strike first with a layup from Sophomore Guard Betsy Lueck but Marian would answer seconds later with a triple by Freshman Guard Olivia Moore.  Moore would lead Marian with 17 points on the night, 8 of them in the 1st half.  Moore would continue with a long two point shot to cap off a 7-0 run for the Mustangs.  Meanwhile the Saddlelites would manage to keep up despite committing plenty traveling calls which would become problematic all night.  After the 1st quarter Marian would lead 9-7.

Marian would get a little cold in the 2nd quarter, missing plenty of shots as well as only making 3 of 7 1st half free throws.  At the other end of the court Teresa Diehl would hit nothing but net from the 3 point line. She was by far the Saddlelites biggest weapon on offense totaling 18 points, 8 in the 1st half.  “We were trying to concentrate on her,” said Marian Head Coach Mary Cicerone “but not let other people beat us.” Diehl would have help in the 2nd quarter from Junior Jessie Munson. She sank a triple to tie it at 13, and then sank another one with 10 seconds to go to tie the game at 21 as both teams headed into the locker room.

The Mustangs would really buckle down on defense to start the 2nd half.  The Saddlelites were held to only 2 points for most of the 3rd quarter.  A big help for Marian would be Junior Forward Madeline Laurencelle who was scooping up rebounds all night at both ends of the court.  After 3 the Mustangs would lead 30-25.

Marian would try to end this one early in the 4th.  Thanks to a lot of points at the free throw line, they started the quarter on an 8-0 run that would last for over four minutes.  That run was capped off by a beauty of a layup from Senior Center Elizabeth Grobbel.  Regina was not ready to call it a night however.  Diehl would lead her team down the court and end their 4th quarter drought with a triple. Next possession it would be Lueck that sinks the triple to bring them within 6.  A few possessions later Diehl would score another 3 to bring them within 5 but they wouldn’t get any closer.  The Mustangs hang on to win 47-39 and will face off against Mercy, who they have split the season series with.  I spoke to Coach Cicerone about that briefly.

“We were in all these games we lost,” said Cicerone, “but mentally we let ourselves down.  We missed some easy layups, we missed some put backs and it falters and makes your defense falter.” “If we make the shots,” she continued, “they’ll have to play some good defense against us too.”

Leading scorers on the night: Marian: Olivia Moore 17, Elizabeth Grobbel 15, Madeline Laurencelle 6.  Regina: Teresa Diehl 18, Jessie Munson 6, Betsy Lueck and Meghan Jones 5.

Game and Team Highlights

Marian:

• The Mustangs made the most out of their two top offensive weapons as Olivia Moore and Elizabeth Grobbel would combine for 32 points.
• Hannah Redoute late in this game would take a rebound coast to coast for a nice layup to help lock this one up for Marian.

Regina:

• Teresa Diehl showed herself to be a true leader on the Saddlelites.  Not only was she hands down the team’s points leader but she was also a vocal leader directing her players and adjusting the plays for her team when they had the ball.  She also earned some high praise from the opposing coach.
• Despite some droughts in the 2nd half, Regina’s defense would keep them in this one and give them the chance to make a late comeback that came up short.