CRESTLINE — The Crestline girls basketball team has played three games in the last four days, a fact that was not lost on Hillsdale coach Tadd Elliott.
“We knew they were coming off three games in four days and we knew if we kept the pressure on, and, that’s one thing, we are fast and we are quick and we felt that was to our advantage this year,” Elliott said.
“We kept to the 1-3-1 defense on the perimeter and got some turnovers,” he added.
The plan worked like a charm.
Crestline held a 45-43 lead, entering the final period, but Hillsdale (4-8) began to run more, getting more layups, outscoring the Bulldogs, 22-6, in the final frame for a 65-51 win.
The loss was the sixth straight for the Bulldogs, who fell to 2-6 and played the game without sophomore Delani Kiser.
“Delani has been getting better every single day,” Crestline coach Kyle Strauch said. “As a sophomore, she is still learning the varsity game and we definitely did miss her tonight.”
Guard Morgan Schwan scored 18 of her 21 points in the second half and post Kayla Vistucis scored 21 points, with six in the fourth period, to pace the Falcons.
“The third quarter is always our bad quarter, and our seniors stepped up at halftime and said we needed a good third quarter, and it turned out to be a really good game,” Elliott said.
Crestline trailed 16-14 after one period but Ivy Stewart knocked down eight points in the second period and the Bulldogs held a 29-26 lead at the break.
Strauch said that his team has no excuses for the loss.
“They played better in the fourth quarter,” Strauch said. “They won the game, I mean, we have to be mentally tougher in the fourth quarter. It was more mental than physical. I think we let the fatigue get to us.
“We’re going to learn from it and get better from it,” he added.
Hannah Delong scored nine of her team-high 15 points in the second half and kept the Bulldogs close until they wore down in the final frame. Daija Sewell added 10 points for Crestline.
Hillsdale had a distinct size advantage inside and held a 42-31 rebounding edge, something that Strauch said his team faces every game.
“That’s most games for us,” Strauch said of his team’s size disadvantage. “We’ve been a short team in the four years I’ve been here. It’s just something we have to work through. We have to box out, getting that over-and-back call, instead of trying to outjump other girls. We’re usually out-sized; the girls are pretty used to it by now.”
Strauch felt that his team’s mental toughness was tested in the fourth period.
“We struggled to get back in that fourth quarter; we gave up too many layups and we struggled to matchup; once again that’s mental toughness,” Strauch said. “We needed to get back and fight the fatigue. We just didn’t do it. They came out and ran like crazy in the fourth quarter and that’s how you win a basketball game.”
In the junior varsity game, Crestline improved to 3-2 on the season with a 42-19 win. Brooklyn Gregory paced the Bulldogs with 13 points.
Box score
Hillsdale 16 10 17 22 — 65
Crestline 14 15 16 6 — 51
Hillsdale (4-8): Shots 26-58; 3-pt. shots 2 (Morgan Schwan, Lacey Fickes); Free throws 11-15; Rebounds 42; Turnovers 19. Scoring: Morgan Schwan 8 4 21, Elizabeth Norris 1 0 2, Lacey Fickes 1 0 3, Josie Rowland 3 2 8, Lauren Bishop 3 0 6, Kayla Vistucis 8 5 21, Marissa Hildebrand 2 0 4.
Crestline (2-6): Shots 18-64; 3-pt. shots 6 (Hannah Delong 2, Ivy Stewart 2, Emma Kirby, Kennedi Sipes); Free throws 9-14; Rebounds 31; Turnovers 15. Scoring: Hannah Delong 5 3 15, Emma Kirby 1 0 3, Ivy Stewart 4 0 10, Liyah Harris 1 0 2, Daija Sewell 4 2 10, Kennedi Sipes 3 0 7, Brynn Cheney 0 4 4.
JV: Crestline 42-19.