CROTHERSVILLE
Coach Kevin Hensley says his Crothersville girls basketball team has to play better defense in the second half of its games than it has shown at the start of this season.
Hensley said he felt the Tigers let a victory slip away when they were outscored 15-6 in the fourth quarter by Clarksville on Monday night, resulting in a 53-49 loss.
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“We’ll play well up until halftime, and I’ll tell the girls every halftime that we have to play better on defense,” he said.
“When I’m not there coaching on that end of the court, there is nobody talking on defense to help each other because when they’re on my end, I’m talking, telling them this and that. They don’t help each other as they should.”
Hensley said he is looking for a player to step up.
“Somebody has got to be more of a vocal leader when they’re on the defensive end, on the opposite end,” he said.
Crothersville’s Grace Wilson made two free throws with 39.5 seconds remaining to tie the game at 49.
One of the defensive breakdowns Hensley mentioned happened on Clarksville’s next possession when Kylie Perez was left open at the top of the key. She drained a 3-pointer with 23 seconds remaining for the winning basket.
“I was asking the girls in the locker room after the game how this girl ends up with a wide-open shot,” Hensley said. “I don’t know how that happens.”
The Tigers had six of their 11 turnovers in the fourth quarter, and two came in the final 10 seconds when they were working the ball to try to tie the game.
“We’ve got to do a heck of a lot better taking care of the ball,” Hensley said. “I know we’ve not won a game yet this year (0-4), but we’ve been in three of the four games. We’re learning, and we’re a young team.”
The Tigers got off to an excellent start, leading 6-3, then 16-6 and 21-8 at the end of the first quarter..
All five Crothersville starters scored in the first period as Kennadi Lakins hit two 3-pointers, Wilson had three 2-point baskets, Zoe Spangler had two baskets and Ella Plasse and Tiessa Stevens each scored a bucket.
Spangler and Wilson stayed hot in the second quarter with two baskets apiece to help the Tigers to a 32-22 lead at the half.
Clarksville center Jasmine Walker made her presence felt in the second half when she scored five of her seven baskets and had 12 of her 18 rebounds.
The Tigers had balanced scoring as Wilson scored 16, Lakins had 14, including four 3-pointers, and Spangler scored 13.
Wilson topped the Tigers with nine rebounds, Plasse had eight and Stevens seven.
“We’re getting there a little bit at a time,” Hensley said. “We’ve got three more through next Monday. We need to do better with the mental part of the game.”
The Tigers host South Central for a Southern Athletic Conference game Thursday, then host Rock Creek Academy in a day game Saturday and Cannelton next Monday.
Clarksville 53, Crothersville 49
Crothersville;21;11;11;6;-;49
Clarksville;8;14;16;15;-;53
Crothersville (0-4) — Zoe Spangler 6 1-1 13, Kennadi Lakins 5 0-0 14, Grace Wilson 6 4-5 16, Ella Plasse 1 2-4 4, Tiessa Stevens 1 0-0 2, Shania Hyland 0 0-0 0, Elayna Ord 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 7-11 49.
Clarksville (2-5) — Myah Bagshaw 4 0-0 9, Carlye Nixie 1 2-2 5, Alyssa Leezer 0 2-3 2, Kylie Perez 4 2-2 12, Jasmine Walker 7 2-8 16, April Jackson 0 0-3 0, Skye Howey 1 1-1 3, Dahya Gaines 3 0-0 6. Totals 20 9-19 53
3-point goals: CHS (Lakins 4), Clarksville (Perez 2, Bagshaw, Nixie)
Rebounds: CHS 28 (Lakins 9, Plasse 8, Stevens 7), Clarksville 38 (Walker 18)
Fouls: CHS 16, Clarksville 8
Turnovers: CHS 11, Clarksville 18