Trinity prepared for regional semifinal with Tecumseh

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Coach Mike Lang says his Trinity Lutheran girls basketball team needs to get off to a good start Saturday at West Washington.

“We’re due,” Lang said prior to practice Wednesday afternoon. “Trust me, we haven’t forgotten we’ve played Loogootee, who’s gone on to the state finals the past two years. I think it’s a good match up for us with Tecumseh. Let’s get the first game and then anything can happen in the second game.”

The Cougars (16-8) will play Tecumseh (17-8) at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the West Washington Regional.

Lanesville (25-1) and Vincennes Rivet (20-6) will play in the second game with the championship game set for 7:30 p.m. Trinity lost to Lanesville and Rivet when the Cougars were battling illnesses.

“They’ve (Tecumseh) had a really tough schedule this year, very similar to ours,” Lang said. Both teams have played two Class 4A teams, and Tecumseh has played nine 3A teams and Trinity has played six 3A teams.

The Braves will be one of the tallest teams the Cougars have faced with 6-foot Morgan Wilson, 5-10 Kaybree Oxley, 5-9 Jenna Donohoo and 5-9 Ashyton Green in their starting lineup.

Oxley leads the Braves in scoring at 17.3 points per game, and in rebounds at 8.8. Donohoo is averaging 11.9 and Flowers is averaging 9.5.

“They are a half-court team,” Lang said. “The one thing they want to do is they want to pound it down low. They want to play inside-out. Oxley is going to be a load down low. That is where they look to create all their offense. They want to turn you over in the press, try to get some turnovers out of their trapping defense. They play a diamond or a 2-2-1. It’s stuff we’ve seen all year.

“Our guards are good enough, and if Bailey (Tabeling), Kailene (Cockerham) and Liza (Froedge) are aggressive with it, it shouldn’t really give us much trouble. From what we’ve seen teams that have struggled with (Tecumseh’s press) is when they’re passive. So we’re just going to be aggressive with it and make them get back and we’re going to challenge them.”

Tabeling tops the Cougars at 20.3 points and 7.8 rebounds. Froedge is averaging 10.4 points and Cockerham is averaging 7.7. Rounding out Trinity’s starters is Madison Keith at 6.5 PPG and Emma Schepman at 2.0.

Cockerham, in her third season as a starter, said defense is a key.

“We just need to clog the middle. That’s where they’re looking to go so if we clog the middle I feel we’ll be fine. We need to put pressure on their outside shooters and let them hit their shots, and not worry about the inside,” she said. “If we get out (of the locker room) with our heads on, ready to play and push the ball up the floor we can beat them in transition and our transition game is probably one of the best games we have going for us.

“When we get it in transition, and go to the basket we’re pretty solid. We’re used to the floor. The rims are really tight but once we get used to them we’ll be fine.”

Lang said, “There are two keys for us. We’ve got to avoid turnovers and we’ve got to eliminate offensive rebounds. We’re going to pack it in on a zone because I think we’re really going to struggle containing Oxley. She’s got a motor that doesn’t stop. She reminds me a lot of Juliann Woodard from Jennings County. They are very similar players. She’s a tough match up.”

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