TERRE HAUTE —
Plainfield’s 16-5 record made the Quakers the team to beat in the Class 4A Terre Haute North Sectional.
So perhaps Terre Haute South, led by 6-foot-1 senior center Hannah Lee, was the team to beat them? With some audacious play down the stretch by Lee and the Braves, that’s how it played out Tuesday night.
IPFW recruit Lee had 17 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots to aid the Braves in a 59-52 girls high school basketball win. Host Terre Haute North won the opener 38-29 over Northview. Behind 14 points and 12 rebounds from Nicole Anderson, the Patriots (13-9) earned a matchup with Mooresville on Friday night.
Plainfield, which was led by Indiana State recruit Kasey Johnson, had no answer for Lee in the post, but the Braves got big plays from players up and down coach Cara Stuckey’s bench.
South (12-10) believed it could accomplish big things in the postseason all year despite an up-and-down regular season, Lee said.
“All those other games are just leading up to what we do in sectionals. The whole season coach just said, ‘Work hard all year, we’ll come together in the sectional,’ ” said Lee, who came up with big rebounds down the stretch but emphasized the team effort in that department. South outrebounded Plainfield 41-33.
“It was a big deal, but I can’t get rebounds unless the rest of my team blocks out,” Lee said. “The best win is always a team win.”
Indeed.
Stuckey used that bench early and often, with Emily Bell knocking down a 15-footer in the first quarter and Dallas Butts draining a pair of 3-pointers to keep South within three early in the second quarter.
Starter Tasia Brewer picked up two quick fouls and drew a third whistle near halftime. But Lee had 10 at the half to help South stay close.
Bell, a 6-0 junior forward, drained the first of two second-half 3-pointers to answer a Johnson trey, making it 45-43 Plainfield with 1:50 left in the third quarter.
South seized that momentum to start the fourth quarter, Lee finding Brewer on a nice backdoor cut that Brewer converted for a 3-point play to knot the score at 47.
Lee scored again after one of Kylie Fendrick’s four steals, and Brewer capped a 9-0 South run with another three-point play. Ellis blocked a 3-pointer by Lesley Fisher, and Claire Bailey hit a pair of big free throws for the Braves.
“Tonight was definitely a team win,” Stuckey said. “That’s what we expect from the juniors and seniors on our team. We’ll definitely enjoy this one tonight. But it’s only step one of three.
As for Lee’s career performance, Stuckey built her senior up for a big game.
“Before the game I told her she would be the difference maker, that they didn’t have anyone in the post that could stop her. I’m glad she stepped up like a senior leader should do,” said Stuckey, who was also quick to point out the South fans in attendance were helpful. “Our fans were awesome tonight. They were behind us the entire night.”
South’s defense was conistent throughout the night. Plainfield’s Johnson, who joined Brewer in early foul trouble, found her outside shot in the second half, knocking down four 3-pointers. But South kept her from an open look in the final few minutes as the Quakers failed to put a rally together.
“Our zone was key tonight. They’re not a team that’s as comfortable playing against a zone. I’m glad 23 [Johnson] will now be wearing an ISU uniform so I don’t have to cheer against her,” Stuckey said.
While Anderson led the Patriots, it was Layne Curley with three first-half 3-pointers that helped North maintain an early lead.
Northview’s Abbey Timberman knocked down two baseline jumpers to keep the Knights within 18-10 early in the second quarter, and Ashley Hughes added a 3-pointer moments later.
Curley stayed hot, however, putting her team up 25-13 with three minutes left before halftime. Two more shots by Hughes, kept Northview within 27-17 at halftime.
While Anderson got 14 points, she got nine on three 3-pointers. North post Adrienne Pritchard was held to three points.
“Our game plan was that we had to take away the inside. Nicole’s a great player and Pritchard’s been playing well. But give North credit, Curley hit some 3s, and the others hit some shots too,” Northview coach Scott Buell said.
In the end, the Knights (1-20) didn’t have enough offense against the bigger, more experienced Patriots. Freshman starter Mikayla Rowan was unable to play due to injury, but Hughes poured in 14 points.
“The effort was great, but we had trouble scoring. Mikayla wasn’t able to play but we’re looking to the future. We don’t lose anybody and we’re going to get in the weight room,” Buell said.
The Knights’ fans gave their team a standing ovation afterward.
“There’s a saying on the back of their shirts: ‘You’re not finished when you lose, you’re finished when you quit.’ There was not quit in this team,” Buell said.
North coach Mike Allen was sure to credit the Knights’ execution of a strong game plan for making it a close game.
He was also happy to see Anderson back on the court after she missed several games due to a foot injury.
“It was nice to have her back. The things she does for us,” Anderson said. “Conditioning-wise she’s maybe 65 percent, and the foot’s maybe 80 percent. Just some soreness. She’s so used to playing so hard, she just can’t right now.”
PLAINFIELD (52) — Motter 4-9 0-2 9, Fisher 5-15 5-10 15, Johnson 7-15 2-3 20, Fromm 1-2 0-2 2, Cowell 0-0 2-2 2, Gilbert 0-5 0-0 0, Reeder 1-1 0-1 2, Wilson 1-4 0-0 2, Jeffries 0-2 0-0 0, Gillenwater 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-53 FG, 9-20 FT, 52 TP.
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (59) — Joyner 2-8 2-2 7, Fendrick 3-5 0-0 6, Brewer 3-5 4-4 10, Ellis 0-1 3-6 3, Lee 5-7 7-10 17, Bell 3-4 0-0 8, Butts 2-7 0-0 8, Bailey 0-2 2-2 2, Ennen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-39 FG, 18-24 FT, 59 TP.
Plainfield 16 16 15 6 — 52
Terre Haute South 12 17 15 15 — 59
3-point shooting — P 5-17 (Johnson 4-7, Fisher 0-2, Gilbert 0-3, Motter 1-3, Wilson 0-1, Jeffries 0-1), THS 5-9 (Bell 2-3, Butts 2-3, Joyner 1-3). Rebounds — P 33 (Johnson 6), THS 41 (Lee 15, Brewer 7, Ellis 5, Joyner 3, Bailey 3). Steals — P 14 (Fisher 8), THS 7 (Fendrick 4, Joyner 2, Brewer). Assists — P 8 (Motter 3), THS 13 (Lee 6, Fendrick 2, Joyner 2). Turnovers — P 14, THS 18. Blocks — P 2, THS 10 (Lee 4, Joyner, Fendrick, Brewer, Bell, Butts). Total fouls — P 16, THS 13. Fouled out — none.
TERRE HAUTE NORTH (38) — Anderson 5-10 1-2 14, Pritchard 1-3 1-4 3, Seeley 1-4 0-0 2, Curley 4-9 2-2 13, Clark 2-7 0-0 5, Sykes 0-5 0-0 0, Dickerson 1-5 0-0 2, Ruark 0-0 0-0 0, Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Middleton 0-1 0-0 0, Bendickson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 14-49 FG, 3-8 FT, 38 TP.
NORTHVIEW (29) — Timberman 3-7 0-0 6, Girton 0-3 0-0 0, Halfhill 0-2 0-0 0, Hughes 6-13 0-2 14, Kumf 0-2 0-0 0, Weddle 0-4 2-2 2, Barrett 0-0 0-0 0, Buell 0-0 0-0 0, Fagg 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 11-32 FG, 5-8 FT, 29 TP.
Terre Haute North 13 14 11 0 — 38
Northview 4 14 4 7 — 29
3-point shooting — THN 7-24 (Curley 3-5, Anderson 3-5, Clark 1-6, Seeley 0-2, Sykes 0-4, Dickerson 0-1, Bendickson 0-1), Nview 2-3 (Hughes 2-2, Halfhill 0-1). Rebounds — THN 31 (Anderson 12, Curley 4), Nview 27 (Halfhill 5, Smith 4). Steals — THN 7 (Curley 2, Clark 2, Sykes, Seeley, Harris), Nview 4 (Smith 2, Kumpf, Hughes). Assists — THN 5 (Seeley 2), Nview 6 (Halfhill 2, Kumpf 2). Turnovers — THN 7, Nview 11. Blocks — THN 4 (Anderson 4), Nview 2 (Hughes 2).
Next — On Friday in the Class 4A Terre Haute North Sectional semifinals, Terre Haute North (13-9) plays Mooresville at 6 p.m., and Terre Haute South (12-10) plays Martinsville to follow. Northview finishes its season 1-20. Plainfield finishes its season 16-6.
High School
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza And one...eye: Terre Haute South's Tasia Brewer is fouled by Plainfield's Kasey Johnson as she drives to the basket during the Braves' sectional win against the Quakers on Tuesday at North.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Keep away: Terre Haute North's Elizabeth Harris tries to keep the ball away from Northview's Whitney Halfhill (13) and Abbey Timberman during the Patriots' sectional win against the Knights on Tuesday at North.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Big points and big boards: Terre Haute South's Hannah Lee drives to the basket against the Plainfield defense during the Braves' upset of the Quakers in the Terre Haute North sectional.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Midair collision: Northview's Ashley Hughes blocks a scoring attempt by Terre Haute North's Layne Curley during the Knights' sectional loss against the Patriots on Tuesday at North.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Up for grabs: Terre Haute North's Layne Curley tries to take control of the ball as she collides with Northview's Sierra Girton and Abbey Timberman during their sectional game Tuesday at North.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Game plan: Terre Haute North coach Mike Allen talks to his team during a timeout in the Patriots' sectional game against Northview on Tuesday at North.
Discussion
South pulls upset
Patriots join Braves in semis
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Wildcats advance to sectional softball final; West Vigo falls
Patience, patience.
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Lough dreamt about McMillan
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