The Mount Gilead girls' basketball team (10-9, 6-6) team came away with a key conference victory over Cardington-Lincoln (11-8, 8-4) on Jan. 30, with Faith White and Danielle Pohlkotte leading the charge in a 49-45 win.
Mount Gilead took a 6-2 lead to start the game, but Magi Hallabrin got her hand in and stole the ball taking it coast to to make it a two point game. Mount Gilead then scored the next six points to go up 12-4, with Kendall Neal, White, Pohlkotte and Aubrey Thomas playing solid defense with steals to create points out of turnovers. Mount Gilead had a 12-7 lead after one quarter with White and Pohlkotte leading the charge with four points apiece.
“Getting out early and being aggressive has been something we have been preaching,” said Mount Gilead Assistant Coach Danielle Bault. “Our team loves to share the ball and get each other involved which is great but it has also at times hurts us; you have to have a go to player offensively and we've struggled to have that player this year. Our girls responded to that and came out looking to attack. When we do that we are a great team.”
In the second quarter Mount Gilead was up 14-10 and trying to tack on more points, but Jill Bertke and Madison Caulkins came up with big blocks near the basket for Cardington-Lincoln. Thomas responded with a block of her own and got the ball back into Mount Gilead’s possession. They scored the next five points, and while the Pirates tried to cut the lead on a drive to the basket, White swooped in for a rejection to keep it a nine point game. After the ball went out of bounds, Pohlkotte had a steal on the next Pirate possession, as well. Bertke made it a 21-13 game on a three.
The Indians led 23-16 at halftime, led by White and Thomas with six points each. The Pirates were led by Bertke with eight points and a block.
In the the third quarter, White had seven points to lead the way for the Indians. This included a buzzer beating three from half court to make it 36-26.
Pirates mounted a comeback attempt and outscored the Indians 19-13 in the fourth. Celia Hall scored on a fast break layup off of a steal to make it a 41-38 game in favor of the Indians. They tacked on another basket and it was a one point game. However, the Indians went off for an 8-2 run before Kinstin Henthorn drilled a wide open corner three to make it a four point game. Mount Gilead was able to hold off the Pirates the rest of the way to take the win.
“We came out in the second half with a different lineup and a different mentality,” Pirate Coach Kevin Fitzpatrick said. “We were very aggressive on offense and defense and we chipped away at the lead.”
Bault said they knew Cardington-Lincoln would make a run, as they are a great offensive team. Being a rivalry game, they knew that nobody was going to give up.
“Coach V just reminded the girls to stay focused, stick to the game plan, understand your assignments and win the game,” said Bault.
White led the charge for the Indians with 14 points, including the half court three. She also had six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. Thomas also had 14 points in the win, to go with three boards, a steal and a block.
“Faith and Aubrey are our leaders,” Bault said. “We play based on their energy. When they are aggressive the whole team plays that way. When they are passive everyone else stays passive. They both know what we need from them and they stayed within themselves and played a great game.”
Olivia Long had seven points, two rebounds and two assists. Pohlkotte had five points, four rebounds, two steals and a block.
“Liv Long had some timely points that kept momentum on our side,” Bault said. “Dani Pohlkotte contributed in all aspects of the game tonight. We've challenged Dani to find ways beyond scoring to impact the game and she did just that tonight. She was all over the place fighting for the ball. She played a great all around game.”
Greer Simpson had four points and seven boards. Bault said that she always give it her all when she’s on the court, and did well containing the Pirate bigs.
The Pirates were led by Bertke with 17 points, three rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocks.
“Jill wanted the ball in the second half and we really worked hard to get it to her,” Fitzpatrick said. “She was drawing extra players and that allowed us to get some offensive rebounds if she missed. She’s really stepped up her game the last month and I couldn’t be prouder of her play.”
Caulkins had 11 points, seven boards and three blocks. Hall scored four points and tallied five boards, four assists and a steal. Hallabrin also had four points to go with four rebounds, four steals and an assist.
The Pirates were unexpectedly without their starting point guard Abigail Hardwick, and Coach Kevin Fitzpatricks said this was a tough hurdle to overcome especially with a strong opponent like the reigning KMAC champion Mount Gilead Indians.
“I’m super proud of the girls,” Coach Fitzpatrick said. “We were put in a very tough situation and they responded. I was able to get a look at some of my bench kids and they came through. It’s only going to help us as we get ready for our tournament run.”
Bault said that this win, among other KMAC victories, shows that the Indians can battle it out with the best.
“We've beat every team in the league this year which shows we can play with anyone, especially when we are the aggressors,” Bault said.
