Girls Basketball: Celtics soar behind Cassidy Glenn’s 19 points, strong ‘D’

Updated: December 10, 2011 11:06PM

The Providence girls basketball team got the bounce back it was looking for after a 26-point loss to Marian Catholic.

“We told the kids we can’t worry about that, let it go and let’s concentrate on getting a win in the conference,” Providence coach Eileen Copenhaver said Saturday after the Celtics beat visiting Joliet Catholic Academy 61-46 in an East Suburban Catholic Conference game.

The Celtics took control midway through the first period when nine consecutive points turned a deficit into a 15-10 lead.

Cassidy Glenn made back-to-back three-point baskets as she scored the first eight Providence points of the second period. Her 12-point first half allowed the Celtics to open a seven-point lead. Glenn finished with 19 points.

The Providence defense harassed JCA on both ends of the floor, with back court pressure and the Celtics consistently contested JCA shots when the Angels did get the ball inside.

JCA missed 10 shots in each of the first two periods and were 9-for-29 (31 percent) in the first half, when the Angels had more turnovers (11) than baskets.

The Angels (2-6, 1-1) hung in, down only four late in the third period before Providence really put down the defensive clamps.

JCA had nine turnovers before scoring its first field goal of the fourth quarter with 1:35 left. The Celtics stormed out to a 57-40 lead by then.

“Overall, our effort was wonderful and our defense was the difference,” said Copenhaver, whose team forced 26 turnovers and allowed 18 field goals.

JCA did get a big game from senior center Shannon Butler, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds.

“Providence played a nice game and deserved to win,” said JCA coach Ed Schodrof, who started two sophomores and a freshman. “But we were not in sync the entire game. We are a work in progress.”

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