BUCYRUS — Even with gradual improvement over the year, when the wins don’t come as desired, it can be challenging for a basketball team to maintain intensity.
That is not a problem for the Bucyrus Lady Redmen.
The Redmen started with perhaps their best quarter of the year against Carey Friday night. But the Blue Devils shook off a shooting slump in the second quarter and rode that momentum to a 58-46 Northern 10 Athletic Conference win at Alex Kish Memorial Gymnasium.
“That was definitely our best first quarter we’ve had,” Bucyrus coach Brian Seybert said. “It was exciting. I thought our student section did a great job getting the energy going right away. I think the girls played off that to start.”
Breaking a 3-3 early tie, the Redmen went on an 11-2 run to the end of the first quarter to forge a 14-5 lead after one. Maddie Kimmel scored 10 of her game-high 22 points to lead the way for Bucyrus (2-15, 0-12 N10).
“They came out playing hard and we didn’t come out playing hard tonight,” Carey coach Keith O’Flaherty said. “I told the girls, ‘You can’t overlook anybody.’ Our record’s not that great either.”
The Blue Devils snapped out of it in a big way in the second quarter. After going two for nine from the field in the first period, Carey (6-12, 3-9) connected on nine of 18 shots — including four 3-point shots — to pile up 23 points and take a 28-20 lead to the locker room at halftime.
“That’s the hardest thing right now — trying to close that gap once we lost (the lead),” Seybert said. “And also maintaining a lead. We’re not super used to that.”
“We talked a little bit at the quarter break, and they came out and played really hard the second quarter and got us the lead at halftime,” O’Flaherty said. “At this point in the season, everyone is improved. You’ve got to take it as they’re here to win.”
Missed free throws and turnovers began to take their toll in the second half. Carey expanded the lead to 45-31 after three quarters. The Redmen only had two baskets, though they did convert six of six free throws. But 12 turnovers gave the Blue Devils additional shots.
The Redmen trimmed two points off the deficit in the fourth quarter but never got closer than 11 points. Six different Carey players scored in the final frame and ten scored for the game. Going five of 12 from the line added to the shortfall.
“Our stats showed we were 16 of 31 from the line,” Seybert said. “We left some points on the floor, but so did they. They were missing some free throws.”
Balanced scoring was the key for the Blue Devils’ victory. Ady Stewart led the way with eight points, but Rylee Row, Meghan Littlejohn, Riley Yost, and Kynlee Phillips had seven each. Just as important was the rebounding advantage Carey enjoyed, 46-33, and 23 of those were on the offensive glass.
“We’ve done a pretty good job on the boards this year,” O’Flaherty said. “Not necessarily on our put-backs — getting the shots to fall after one or two rebounds. We’ve got Logan (Wenzinger) in there at 6-1 and we’ve got Julia (Brodman) and Rylee (Row) in there that are aggressive.”
Brodman had 13 boards and Phillips grabbed 11.
Kendra Blizzard seconded Kimmel’s 22 points with eight. Emma Tyrrell and Marissa Middleton had seven each. Kimmel had 15 rebounds.
“Everything for us goes through Maddie and Emma,” Seybert said. “Maddie was playing her heart out. She’s playing a little hurt, but she’s doing what she can for us.”
“It got a little sloppy out there at the end,” O’Flaherty said. “We put them at the line 31 times. It always seems like someone has one of their better games against us. I’m glad to walk out of here with a win because Bucyrus just gave it all they had.”
“I thought our presses were effective today,” Seybert said. “We were getting some turnovers. When we get the turnovers, we’ve got to be able to score off them. The press was doing what we thought it could do.
“Kudos to our girls for being able to play through all that contact that was going on out there,” Seybert added. “They dive on the floor. I don’t have to ask them to do it, they just do it. They go after the ball, they drive hard. They really are working their butts off and I’m proud of them.”
Carey also won the junior varsity game, 50-29. Rachel Reinhart and Raigan Kessler had 11 points each for the Blue Devils. Marissa Middleton had 10 points for Bucyrus.
Box score
Carey 5 23 17 13 — 58
Bucyrus 14 6 11 15 — 46
Carey (6-12, 3-9 N10): Shots 21-60; 3-pt. shots 6-22 (Meghan Littlejohn 2, Ady Stewart 2, Macy Wentling, Riley Yost); Free throws 10-24; Rebounds 46 (Julia Brodman 13, Kynlee Phillips 11); Turnovers 22. Scoring: Rylee Row 3 1 7, Macy Wentling 1 2 5, Julia Brodman 3 0 6, Meghan Littlejohn 2 1 7, Lexi Plott 3 0 6, Riley Yost 3 0 7, Hannah Ritter 0 1 1, Ady Stewart 2 2 8, Kynlee 2 3 7, Logan Wenzinger 2 0 4.
Bucyrus (2-15, 0-12 N10): Shots 15-38; 3-pt. shots 0-7; Free throws 16-31; Rebounds 33 (Maddie Kimmel 15); Turnovers 27. Scoring: Addison Ricker 1 0 2, Maddie Kimmel 6 10 22, Kendra Blizzard 2 4 8, Emma Tyrrell 3 1 7, Marissa Middleton 3 1 7.
JV: Carey 50-29.