AUSTIN
Displeased with the number of turnovers in recent games, Seymour girls basketball coach Jason Longmeier made a simple rule for his team on Tuesday: If you turn the ball over, you go to the bench.
Outside of a turbulent third quarter the tactic worked, and the Owls picked up a 45-33 non-conference win at Austin.
In the first quarter, Seymour six-foot forward Makenna Fee made her presence known.
The Owls opened the game on a 10-4 run behind eight points by Fee.
A score from Ashton Chase and free throw by Fee gave the Owls a 13-8 lead at the end of eight minutes of play. Fee had six rebounds to go along with nine points in the first quarter.
The Owls’ defense didn’t allow another field goal before intermission.
Back-to-back baskets by Aidan Hiester and Grace Meyer extended the Owls’ lead to nine points two minutes into the second quarter.
Following a pair of free throws from the Eagles’ Addison Brasher, the Owls went on a 9-0 run behind five points by fee, free throws by Maddie Roark and a basket by Chase.
At the half, the Owls led 26-11. AHS had 10 turnovers in the second quarter while the Owls had just two giveaways total by the break.
Roark and Fee got baskets to go at the start of the third quarter, but six Seymour turnovers led to a 9-0 run by the Eagles to cut the deficit to 30-20 with 1:59 on the clock.
A basket by Meyer gave the Owls a 32-20 advantage after 24 minutes of play.
AHS went on a 6-2 run in the first two minutes before the teams traded baskets on four straight possessions.
In the final 2:53 of the game the Owls went on a 7-2 scoring spree.
Fee led the Owls with 16 points and Chase had eight. Misti Kimberlin led the Eagles with 10 points.
Owls coach Longmeier said he thought the team missed some shots they shouldn’t have.
“Our shooting percentage was not very good tonight,” he said. “As a coaching staff, we thought we should of shot 65 percent. I think our execution was better, we just need to find a way to finish better at the rim.”
The Owls outrebounded the Eagles 32-31 and won the turnover margin 13-24.
Seymour was called for 17 fouls to the Eagles’ nine infringements.
“I’m pleased to walk out of here with a win,” Longmeier said. “Our kids fought through a lot of adversity tonight.”
Seymour will play a non-conference game at Jennings County on Friday.