For The Tribune
Campbellsburg
Most high school basketball coaches said they were concerned how their teams are going to perform with the added pressure of sectional tournament time in Indiana.
Medora girls’ coach Brad McCammon was not happy with what he saw from the Hornets during Tuesday’s game against Orleans in the Class A Sectional at West Washington.
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“We were hitting people right in the hands with the ball and we couldn’t catch it,” McCammon said about the Hornets’ 17 turnovers in the first half.
Those mistakes limited the Hornets to only seven field-goal attempts in the first half as Orleans jumped on top 16-2 after the first period. They increased that advantage to 26-6 at halftime before winning 54-19.
“I didn’t know how the younger kids would react to the big stage, and we were really tight, and Orleans was taking it to us, obviously,” McCammon said.
“We only got seven shots in the first half, and when you throw it away more times than you shoot it, that’s not going to be too productive.”
One senior, three juniors and a sophomore started for the Hornets.
Medora played short-handed, as three players wore street clothes because of injuries.
Carley McCammon gave the Hornets an early 2-0 lead before Taylor Wheeler made four free throws and a basket, Addie Ramsey hit two buckets, and Caitlin Rutherford drilled a 3-point shot to spark the Bulldogs to the early lead.
McCammon also scored the first basket of the second period, but Orleans responded with a 10-0 run before Lillian Hatfield scored for the Hornets in the closing seconds of the half.
The Bulldogs were on top 37-6 midway through the third period when the Hornets played their best ball of the night by outscoring the Bulldogs 7-3 in a two-minute span. McCammon and Jadelyn Dean made layups and McCammon added a 3-point basket for a 40-13 score, and Orleans was on top 42-13 going into the final period.
“We just didn’t really execute any phase of the game,” Brad McCammon said. “Mentally in the first half we didn’t execute anything. In the second half we made some changes and had a little more success, but when you dig that big of a hole it’s going to be tough.
“Like I said, you never know how kids are going to react in the sectional, and we came out shell-shocked. Give credit to Orleans. They played aggressively, they played up-tempo, and we just didn’t react.”
Carley McCammon finished as the high scorer for the Hornets with 11 points, while Ramsey topped the Bulldogs with 18, and Wheeler added 14.
Dean topped the Hornets in rebounds with five.
Coach McCammon said his returning players need to work on their fundamentals during the offseason.
“We’ve got to do things in the summer to get better, and it’s actually got to start this spring,” he said. “It depends on how they react. Do they feel sorry for themselves and give up, or do they get determined and have more resolve and make it better? I’m hoping it’s the latter.”
The future looks brighter for the Hornets (6-19) with the incoming freshman class.
“Plus, we’ve got some eighth-grade kids coming up that I think will help us,” McCammon said. “We’re not going to sit back and feel sorry for ourselves. I told them I hope you don’t like this taste in your mouth. They’ve got to work hard.”
Trinity Lutheran will play Orleans in the 6 p.m. semifinal game Friday, and Crothersville will battle Springs Valley in the second game.