Lady Eagles Defeat Sherwood On Hardcourt

 

The Holden girls basketball team recorded a home win over non-conference opponent Sherwood by the final score of 43-30 on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Playing shorthanded minus the services of Lilee Keller who led the team in scoring in its season-opening win over Adrian, Holden’s starters and reserve players stepped up in the victory after Keller injured an ankle on the final play of Monday’s practice.

Sophomore guard Addy Campbell led Holden in scoring with 17 points, and senior guard Rachel Wamsley added 12 points in the win.

Sophomore center Lilly Carver started the game in Keller’s place as multiple reserve players gained minutes on the court.

“It’s hard when you have to make up that, but it’s kind of nice when Addy drops 17,” said Holden girls basketball coach Ben Kiger. “I think she’s capable of really, really blowing up. Rachel had a really good third quarter. She did a really good job taking it to the hole. Lilly Carver got her first start…did a nice job filling in. We got some minutes from Kyleigh Stowell, Annie Zillner, Layne Jennings, and Kaylynn Pedrow.”

Campbell and Jaci Gower each converted a free throw in the first quarter which ended on a three-point shot from half court by Wamsley at the buzzer. Wamsley’s shot left the Lady Eagles trailing 6-5 heading into the second period.

“We came in tonight, and I didn’t think we had very good energy,” said coach Kiger. “I think they came out with a lot of energy. It took us awhile to get there. Luckily, Rachel hits a three at the end of the first quarter…a half-courter. We just struggled to score and then we came out in the second quarter, and when No. 10 (Sadie McCulloh) got in foul trouble, we picked up our press. That’s when we had really good hands. Rachel did a really good job of playing that back spot. Again, something she hadn’t practiced because that’s where Keller is, and Keller just wasn’t there.”

Campbell added seven points in the second period as Gower scored four points, Wamsley and Jazzy Brown each made a two-point field goal, and Carver converted a free throw.

Holden’s 16-point burst in the second quarter put the Lady Eagles ahead 21-11 at halftime.

Wamsley with seven points in the third quarter combined with six points from Campbell represented Holden’s 13 points scored in the third period.

After sitting out most of the second quarter with three fouls, McCulloh returned for Sherwood in the third period to put up 11 points in the third frame. McCulloh finished with a team-high 17 points for the Lady Marksmen. Her 11 points in the third period helped Sherwood to a 17-13 scoring advantage in the quarter as the two teams started the final stanza with Holden ahead 34-28.

The Lady Eagles posted nine points in the fourth quarter while holding Sherwood to two points to set the final score at 43-30.

Campbell tacked on three points in the final period to close out her team-high 17 point total. Brown connected on two field goals, and Gower added two points.

“That’s probably a career high for Addy,” said coach Kiger. “As good as she was on offense, she did an even better job on defense. You’ve got to talk about the elephant in the room. Not having Keller in that spot of the zone…we did a whole practice of what our game plan was, and then the last play of practice, she rolls her ankle and she’s out. There’s no more practice.”

Gower finished with seven total points.

“Every game it seems like Jaci has more just because when she scores, she scores at a moment when we need a big bucket,” said coach Kiger. “Last two games she’s averaging seven-and-a-half points, but they are very, very loud points.”

As noted, Wamsley scored 12 points in the game. Brown totaled six points. Carver finished with one point.

“I got some minutes out of some people, and right now, it’s seeing who can play and who can’t,” said coach Kiger. “I was really pleased with Kaylynn Pedrow. She comes out and she’s there in the right spot defensively. There’s work to be done offensively, but defensively, she got a rebound, she got a steal, I believe. I’m proud of her. It’s a team win. You move on, and we think about Crest Ridge now.”

Lady Eagles Defeat Lady Cougars
The Holden girls basketball team recorded a road win over Crest Ridge by the final score of 42-24 on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Jaci Gower scored a team-high 17 points for Holden to represent the third player to lead the Lady Eagles in scoring in as many games after Lilee Keller led in Holden’s season opener against Adrian, and Addy Campbell topped the team against Sherwood.

“I thought we did a great job of setting each other up for easy looks,” said coach Kiger. “Jaci led us with 17 points. She did a great job of controlling the middle. Jazzy got us going early in the game with some steals that she was able to turn into six points on the night. Rachel hit four three-pointers to have 12, and Adalyn had seven points.

“Our defense in the third quarter is what allowed us to pull away and build an 18-point lead. The other thing is that we got good contributions from the bench.”

Lady Eagles End Week With Loss To Oak Grove
Playing on the road against the Oak Grove Lady Panthers, the Holden girls basketball team fell by the final score of 44-19 on Friday, Dec. 1.
Sophomore point guard Addy Campbell was lost to an injury early in the game as junior Lilee Keller missed her third consecutive game as she recovers from an injury.

“Oak Grove wasn’t anything pretty,” said coach Kiger. “Adalyn got hurt on the first play of the game. She tried to come back but was basically playing one-handed.

“Jaci tried to get us through the physical play. She led us with eight points on the night. We struggled getting the ball across, and when we did, we couldn’t get our offense together.

“Being without two starters and playing three out of four nights caught up to us,” noted coach Kiger. “With all of that being said, I was proud of the effort everyone gave me.”

The Holden girls basketball team held an overall record of 3-1 with no conference games played at that point. The Lady Eagles were scheduled to begin conference play at home against Carrollton on Tuesday of this week. Game results were not available at press time.

The Holden girls basketball team travels to Pleasant Hill this Friday, Dec. 8 for a non-conference match-up. A JV game will be played at 5:30 p.m. The varsity contest follows the JV game.