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Girls Basketball: Fort Wayne’s stingy ‘D’ stops Boman early
Updated: February 18, 2012 9:31PM
ROCHESTER — One way to beat a team that presses full court is to give them a dose of their medicine: Create turnovers, beat them down court and force them into bad decisions.
Fort Wayne Luers gagged Bowman with more than a spoonful of the bitter stuff Saturday in a 73-37 victory in the Rochester Regional.
It was a disappointing evening for the Eagles, who were flying high after a morning victory over Winamac.
The Knights, the defending Class 2A state champions, were just too much too handle. They forced 19 turnovers and held Bowman to 15-of-59 shooting.
It was a rough ending for Princess German, the Eagles’ star point guard, who is off to play at Wisconsin next year. German, who averages 26 points per game, finished with 11, and just one in the first half.
“I’m shocked,” she said. “I thought we would play better.”
The Knights got off to a flying first-quarter start, forcing Bowman coach Janora Holmes to call a timeout after Luers went ahead 5-0 on a free throw by Miracle Woods.
That was just the beginning of a long, futile stretch for the Eagles. Holmes burned her second timeout with 1:58 left in the first quarter after a bucket by Addie Reimbold.
Bowman, the team that usually does the rattling, never found a groove for its trapping, pressing defense.
The Eagles were beat for four easy layups in the first quarter on long outlet passes. That allowed the Knights to race out to a 17-8 lead.
They also had four traveling violations called against them. Holmes gave up on the full-court pressure late in the first quarter, but it was too late by then.
Luers had established its dominance inside, tossing it inside to Miracle Woods, who found seams inside after curling around screens at the free-throw line. Woods finished with 17 first-half points.
The Knights opened the second quarter by going on an 11-2 run that ended with a 3-pointer by Erin Butler. That made the score 28-6 with 5:02 left in the half.
A basket by Woods with 40 seconds left gave Luers a 39-12 halftime lead, ending a brutal stretch for the Eagles against the powerful Knights.
The second half consisted mostly of Luers holding the Eagles in check. By then, it was too late.
Holmes said the team lost the game in the first half.
“I just thought we were really outhustled,” Holmes said.
Holmes did try to make an adjustment against Woods, who scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Nothing worked.
“We just couldn’t contain her,” Holmes said.
Woods, who scored most of her points right next to the basket, said she was surprised Bowman didn’t double-team her more.
For the Eagles, it was a bittersweet ending. This was the second straight trip to the regional and they had hoped for a better performance.
It’s still a long way from where they were three years ago, when they finished 5-10 and couldn’t get teams to play them. The three seniors that graduate are the first full class to finish. Last year the Eagles had one senior on the team.
“We have won back-to-back sectionals,” Holmes said. “I have no regrets.”
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