Girls basketball: Charity stripe unkind to Crown Point

Updated: December 3, 2011 11:58PM

CARMEL — Just a few minutes into the second half, Carmel coach Scott Bowen had a question for the referees during the Greyhounds’ game against visiting Crown Point.

“What are we doing differently,” Bowen asked, noting what, at the moment, was a 24-2 free throw attempt disparity for his team.

It didn’t matter as Crown Point made less than half of their free throws in a 68-54 loss.

At the end of the third quarter, Crown Point had attempted 25 more free throws, but still found themselves down by a double-digit deficit, 49-37.

The Bulldogs (4-3) finished the game 20 of 41 from the free-throw line, while Carmel was 11 of 18.

“There’s the game right there,” Crown Point coach Annie Equihua said. “Also, how many easy bunny shots right inside (were missed)? We need to go up strong and concentrate on our shooting, but you know what, it will come…they played with heart and I’ll take that over anything.”

Despite the loss, Equihua left not just happy, but ecstatic with the play of her team after what she called two “rough losses” to LaPorte and Lowell.

“What they started doing was penetrating and giving it to our bigs,” Equihua said. “Our bigs did a fantastic job of sealing their girl and posting up; and our perimeter players got the ball inside. Why the difference? I have no idea, but I’m ecstatic we took this step forward.”

Crown Point senior center Alexis Joseph scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while forward Michaela Prough added eight points and 12 rebounds. Guard Courtney Kvachkoff scored 14 points.

Joseph and Prough, both 6-feet-1, had a size advantage against Carmel, which had no player taller than 5-11 on its roster.

“They grow them big up in the Region,” Bowen said. “When they got inside they were tough for us to handle. You have to hope during the course of the game your kids make more shots.”

Carmel (3-4) had three double-digit scorers, led by Katelyn Nordhoff’s double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds.

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