Stoney Creek felt they had the star power to compete with the visiting Lake Orion girls? hoops squad last Friday in an OAA III showdown.
Britney Nelson’s 16 second-half points almost made that a reality, but the Dragons? 14-point halftime lead was too much to overcome in the end as Lake Orion held on for a 58-50 victory.
The game was billed as a showdown between Nelson, a senior, and Lake Orion junior Bethany Watterworth. But the two combined for just nine first half points, as the LO duo of Courtney Zott (12) and Cortney Kimmel (6) outscored the Cougars by themselves.
Stoney Creek opened the second half with an 11-0 run, including three pointers on three straight trips and a Nelson bucket to cut it to 31-28.
The hosts would cut it to three points on several more occasions, but couldn’t get any closer.
‘I think that the more Stoney pushed us, the better we played,? Lake Orion Coach Steve Roberts said. ‘They weren’t going away, but our kids responded and came up with big plays down the stretch.?
Roberts credited his depth as the difference-maker in the end, and Stoney Creek Coach Brad Crighton agreed.
‘Their match-ups are tough,? Crighton said. ‘They have four guards and Bethany can also play out on the wing.?
Crighton said the missed opportunities in the opening minutes were just too much to overcome.
‘In the first half we got a lot of open looks, they just weren’t going down,? he said. ‘They were hitting their shots and that was the difference.?
The Dragons employed a zone defense the entire game, one that sent defenders at Nelson every time she touched the ball.
Still, she finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, to lead all players in both categories.
Teammate Kristin Bednarowski, the team’s second leading scorer, finished with just five points and didn’t attempt a shot in the first half, something that stood out to Crighton afterwards.
The Dragons (5-0, 2-0) were led by Zott’s 20 points and six steals. Kimmel added 10 points and six assists.
Watterworth finished with a stat-sheet-stuffing night of 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three blocks.
‘We’ve got a good one-two punch with Watterworth and Zott,? Roberts said. ‘They’re both regularly getting up into the teens.?
The Dragons have a pair of home games this week before the holiday break, including a tip with Lahser on Thursday night and one with Pontiac Northern after this edition went to print. Please visit lakeorionreview.com to stay up to date.