By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com
MORTONS GAP - A monstrous second-half run propelled the Indiana Elite Girls 14U squad to a big win in the first-ever Kentucky-Indiana Girls Freshman All-Star game at Hopkins County Central.
The Kentucky crew trailed just four points at halftime, but Indiana powered ahead on a 30-6 second-half outburst en route to a 49-21 victory on Saturday evening. During the final 12 minutes, the Bluegrass All-Stars tallied just one field goal. Four of the team's second-half points came on free-throws in the final 37 seconds.
Still, the honor of playing in such an event resonated with the local all-stars, especially Hopkins County Central's Shalara Wells, who participated in both contests.
"It means a lot because I'm only going to be a sophomore and last year was my first year playing varsity and I started," Wells said. "It means all that hard work paid off.
"It's kind of nervewracking to be playing in both games though. I'm the youngest player in the second game, but I feel honored to be in both games."
Even for Central coach Dwain Orten, who commanded the Kentucky youngsters, the experience meant a lot. "It's a privilege to do it," he said. "We're a pretty talented team. We practiced twice because of the dead period, so we haven't had a lot of practicing in. They're an AAU team, played about 45 times this summer, so it was a pretty big challenge."
Indiana and Kentucky battled back and forth during the opening quarter with four lead changes and two ties, but the Hoosier stars grabbed the lead for good on a Maura Muenstermann jumper with 2:21 remaining in the first. The bucket gave Indiana an 8-6 advantage and the team pushed the lead to seven by the end of the first.
The Kentucky crew trailed just four points at halftime, but Indiana powered ahead on a 30-6 second-half outburst en route to a 49-21 victory on Saturday evening. During the final 12 minutes, the Bluegrass All-Stars tallied just one field goal. Four of the team's second-half points came on free-throws in the final 37 seconds.
Still, the honor of playing in such an event resonated with the local all-stars, especially Hopkins County Central's Shalara Wells, who participated in both contests.
"It means a lot because I'm only going to be a sophomore and last year was my first year playing varsity and I started," Wells said. "It means all that hard work paid off.
"It's kind of nervewracking to be playing in both games though. I'm the youngest player in the second game, but I feel honored to be in both games."
Even for Central coach Dwain Orten, who commanded the Kentucky youngsters, the experience meant a lot. "It's a privilege to do it," he said. "We're a pretty talented team. We practiced twice because of the dead period, so we haven't had a lot of practicing in. They're an AAU team, played about 45 times this summer, so it was a pretty big challenge."
Indiana and Kentucky battled back and forth during the opening quarter with four lead changes and two ties, but the Hoosier stars grabbed the lead for good on a Maura Muenstermann jumper with 2:21 remaining in the first. The bucket gave Indiana an 8-6 advantage and the team pushed the lead to seven by the end of the first.
Kentucky fell behind by as many as nine points twice during the second quarter, but a put-back by Central's Ja'Leigh Smith and score by Webster County's Mariah Herrera drew the game to 19-15 at half.
Wells started the offense for Kentucky in the second half. Wells accepted a pass on the far corner and drove baseline to the hoop for two. The bucket represented the team's lone field goal of the second half, though.
After a 10:32 scoreless drought, McKenzie Ames and Madisonville-North Hopkins' Morgan Duvall each hit a pair of free-throws.
Orten said Indiana's second-half full-court press forced the girls into a tight situation. Not knowing each others' tendencies made it even more difficult.
"I think it was just unfamiliarity with each other," Orten said of his team's second-half struggles. "Two practices, the only thing we can do is practice against the older girls, and it's really hard to get anything done with all the talent out there. From 14-year-olds to 18-year-olds is a big difference on the girls."
For Indiana, three players reached double-figures led by Jacey Ritzert's 14.
Wells and Mariah Herrera each finished with five points to lead Kentucky offensively. Lady Storm guard Kaitlyn "Krhea" Orten tallied three points on the first three-point field goal of the game for either squad.
Despite Saturday's outcome, Orten said he's confident his team will rebound in the next matchup.
"I think the next time we play them we'll have an idea of what to do to them, plus we'll have some more practice under our belt," he said.
Indiana 13 6 14 16 - 49
Kentucky 6 9 2 4 - 21
Indiana: Jacey Ritzert 14, Maura Muenstermann 12, Tyra Buss 10, Ellie Fruit 5, Tori Schickel 5, Lori Thomas 2, Olivia Hunt 1
Kentucky: Mariah Herrera 5, Shalara Wells 5, Kaitlyn Orten 3, McKenzie Ames 2, Morgan Duvall 2, Ja'Leigh Smith 2, Jessica Stone 2
Wells started the offense for Kentucky in the second half. Wells accepted a pass on the far corner and drove baseline to the hoop for two. The bucket represented the team's lone field goal of the second half, though.
After a 10:32 scoreless drought, McKenzie Ames and Madisonville-North Hopkins' Morgan Duvall each hit a pair of free-throws.
Orten said Indiana's second-half full-court press forced the girls into a tight situation. Not knowing each others' tendencies made it even more difficult.
"I think it was just unfamiliarity with each other," Orten said of his team's second-half struggles. "Two practices, the only thing we can do is practice against the older girls, and it's really hard to get anything done with all the talent out there. From 14-year-olds to 18-year-olds is a big difference on the girls."
For Indiana, three players reached double-figures led by Jacey Ritzert's 14.
Wells and Mariah Herrera each finished with five points to lead Kentucky offensively. Lady Storm guard Kaitlyn "Krhea" Orten tallied three points on the first three-point field goal of the game for either squad.
Despite Saturday's outcome, Orten said he's confident his team will rebound in the next matchup.
"I think the next time we play them we'll have an idea of what to do to them, plus we'll have some more practice under our belt," he said.
Indiana 13 6 14 16 - 49
Kentucky 6 9 2 4 - 21
Indiana: Jacey Ritzert 14, Maura Muenstermann 12, Tyra Buss 10, Ellie Fruit 5, Tori Schickel 5, Lori Thomas 2, Olivia Hunt 1
Kentucky: Mariah Herrera 5, Shalara Wells 5, Kaitlyn Orten 3, McKenzie Ames 2, Morgan Duvall 2, Ja'Leigh Smith 2, Jessica Stone 2
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