Defense was the story for Columbus North in Tuesday’s night matchup with Seymour.
The Bull Dogs put on the pressure most of the night against the Owls, and it proved to be a difference in a 60-42 win.
Despite being shorthanded in the loss, Seymour coach Jason Longmeier was proud of the effort.
“The first thing I said to them in the locker room was that the game had three or four chances to really get out of hand and get ugly, and we didn’t let that happen,” Longmeier said.
The North defense put the pressure on Seymour early, while offensively, the Bull Dogs hit a couple of 3-point shots to go ahead 8-2. Kendall Sterling had all six of the Owls’ points to make it 12-6 after the first quarter.
North utilized the press once more that led to some transition basket to expand the lead to 16-6. Seymour didn’t have much of an answer offensively. Free throws also were key in the first half. The Bull Dogs converted 12 of 14 from the line and the Owls were 2 of 8 from the line. North turned up its intensity defensively, which led to more offense at the other end as they led 31-13 at the half.
Seymour knocked down several baskets to start the second half to cut the deficit to 34-22. The Bull Dogs went back to the full-court that led to a couple Owls turnovers and points at the other end. It led to North going on a 7-0 run that capped with a steal from Lauren Barker, who then dished it to Kayla Jones for the layup that forced a Seymour timeout.
Following the timeout, the Owls gave the Bull Dogs a taste of their own medicine by enabling the full-court press. It caught North off guard and Seymour took advantage by finishing out the third quarter on a 9-1 run to cut it to 44-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
“Hindsight 20-20, maybe we should have went to the press a little bit sooner,” Longmeier said. “We were in foul trouble early in the first quarter. We have to do a better job of staying out of foul trouble, that’s been a hinder on us the last three or four games.
The Owls got it to within 52-41 midway through the fourth, but the Bull Dogs held up defensively to prevent any rally.
Kendall Sterling led the Owls with 18 points.
Seymour will look to bounce back at home on Thursday night when the Owls host Floyd Central.