WASHINGTON —
Facing the possibility of a three-game losing streak only four games into its young season, the Washington girls basketball team put together its best offensive showing this season.
The Hatchets (2-2, 1-1 Big 8) defeated Vincennes Lincoln, 55-33, Tuesday at the Hatchet House.
Washington raced out to a 16-9 lead after the first quarter despite making only seven of its 19 shots in the opening quarter. While the Hatchet offense struggled, its defense didn’t miss a beat, allowing Vincennes Lincoln to convert only four of its 15 shot attempts.
In the second quarter, the Hatchets extended its lead as it won the second quarter 14-11 to take a 30-20 halftime lead behind 13 points from Hunsinger in the first half.
The Hatchets opened the second half with a 13-0 run that lasted nearly six minutes, before Haley Carmean converted a jump shot. Washington finished the quarter with a 45-25 advantage. The Hatchets won the final quarter 10-8, culminating an impressive defensive showing. Vincennes Lincoln made only 10 of its 57 shot attempts.
It’s only been four games, but by getting back to .500, the Hatchets have its feet underneath them again.
“It’s great to get that win for team morale,” Washington coach Grethchen Miles said. “We had a tough week last week with great opponents, but we have to find that measuring stick to see where we are as a team. Vincennes (Lincoln) is a very tough ball club, and we were very fortunate that they shot 3-for-26 from the 3-point line. As you win, it just builds momentum. We’ve won one in a row, and we just have to keep the ball rolling.”
Miles saw a concerted effort to play hard on both ends of the court, but the Hatchets ability to stay focused offensively was the key. Washington got eight points and 10 rebounds from Audra Stallman and seven points, two assists and 12 rebounds from Audra Lane.
“When you can hit shots, that just builds confidence all the way around,” Miles said. “It makes everything else that maybe wasn’t as positive not look as bad. I thought the kids came out with a lot of energy. They did well with communication on the defensive end. Offensively I think we cut more with a purpose. We cut hard to the open spaces, and we were a lot more patient.”
After dropping its Big 8 opener to Mount Carmel, Ill., and Friday’s disappointing 49-31 loss at Sullivan, Washington needed a big performance Tuesday.
That’s exactly what Miles got from her team as a whole, and especially junior forward Ally Hunsinger. Hunsinger had struggled with foul trouble in previous games this season, but against the Alices’ she had no such trouble, leading Washington with 24 points.
“Ally (Hunsinger) had a tremendous night,” Miles said. “She was in the flow of the game, taking high percentage shots under control. She was taking a second to read the defense to see what they were giving her.”
As Washington got back to .500 overall and in the Big 8, Miles said there are still plenty of things her team needs to work on, but Tuesday was a good start.
“In any other game when you give up as many offensive rebounds as we did, you usually lose,” Miles said. “Like I said when you’re able to hit shots, that makes a big difference. We just have to get better at that.”
Vincennes Lincoln 9 11 5 8 - 33
Washington 16 14 15 10 - 55
Vincennes Lincoln (33) - Carmean 4 1-1 0 10, Fredrick 2 0-0 3 4, K. Parker 1 0-0 1 3, Bobe 3 3-6 0 9, Abendroth 0 4-4 2 4, E. Parker 0 0-0 0 0, Small 0 0-0 1 0, Goodwin 0 3-4 0 3, Coomes 0 0-0 1 0, Sievers 0 0-0 0 0. Totals: 10 11-15 8 33.
Washington (55) - Mahan 1 0-0 1 3, Husinge8 8-9 2 24, Mason 3 0-0 1 6, Perez 1 1-2 1 3, Lundy 2 0-0 1 4, Lane 3 0-0 0 7, Stallman 4 0-0 3 8. Totals: 22 9-11 9 55.
3-point goals: Vincennes Lincoln 2 (Carmean 1, K. Parker 1), Washington 2 (Mahan 1, Lane 1)
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