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Girls Basketball: Knox captures sectional over Hanover Central
Updated: February 13, 2012 10:11PM
WHEATFIELD — The Knox Redskins may have started out the season 2-10, but they have turned that early shaky early start around, completing a run that has culminated in a sectional championship.
The Redskins, have become a poised and confident team, and Monday evening Coach Dan Huizenga’s veteran team executed almost flawlessly, defeating Hanover Central, 59-45, to capture the Class 3A Kankakee Valley Sectional. In getting to the championship, they have won 11 of 12 games.
Last night Knox executed its game plan to perfection.
The Redskins got the most out of their three seniors, with Southern Wesleyan-bound Shelby Gilbert drilling four threes and scoring 15 points, handing out seven assists and running the offense at the point.
Classmate Hope Wagner led the team with 19 points, added five assists and she was a great counterpoint for Gilbert, driving to the basket and dishing off inside when she wasn’t putting the ball into the basket.
Finally, senior Chelsea Combs had the assignment of guarding the Wildcats’ Blayr Poston. And though the Hanover point guard scored 24 points before following out, it was Combs’ determined defense that allowed Knox to throttle the Wildcat offense.
Knox jumped out to a 17-14 lead at the first quarter break, and led the rest of the way before the Wildcats cut it to two, 39-37, with late in the third quarter. But a driving Wagner found Kaitlin Zachary to close out the quarter with a bucket inside. The Redskins were up 41-37.
The Redskins took charge with to straight baskets, Combs to Zachary, and Wagner to Howard, and Knox pushed the lead to 56-42, and they were on the way to a victory. Zachary ended up with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
“When we’re shooting the ball like that, we’re tough to guard,” said Huizenga. “Gilbert and Wagner have played over 400 together, and they complement each other well. Shelby has been playing with pain this year, she shot well tonight, she hasn’t done that in some games this season.”
“I didn’t feel any pain tonight, my hands didn’t hurt at all,” said Gilbert. “Hope did a great job driving and looking for the open shot.”
“We knew Poston was going to score her points, we just wanted to step up our defense and force her to use her left hand,” said Huizenga. “Chelsea did a wonderful job on her. We didn’t get our switches sometimes, and that hurt.”
Hanover Central coach Doug Nelson said his team has had problems with opponents that have multiple guards, “We have a tough time against teams like that, who have three guards who can handle the basketball and score. With Knox, I knew we had to play four guards. We’re a still a young team, but we have to find someone that can score along with Blayr. Knox hurt us also, by maing free throws down the stretch.”
Hanover Central finishes 15-8, Knox is now 12-11, and will play Rensselaer Central at the Rensselaer Regional Saturday.
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