Gabby Zeigler, left, of North Union leaps for a layup against a Fredericktown defender during the Lady Cats’ tournament opener on Tuesday. Zeigler tallied 13 points during NU’s 64-48 win. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The North Union girls basketball team had a different idea of what it would face in its tournament opener against the Fredericktown Freddies on Tuesday.
“They are good in the post and moving the ball in the paint, which is what we were more prepared for,” said North Union head coach Bre Nauman.
The Freddies team that took the floor in the first quarter of the Lady Cats’ 64-48 win looked much different than a heavy post team.
Fredericktown instead came out and started lighting up the scoreboard from beyond the three-point arc.
Nauman said the Freddies gave NU something it wasn’t expecting.
“They came out swinging,” she said. “They went for every shot that was there.”
Fredericktown made six three-point goals during the opening eight minutes of the contest.
Nauman, though, said some of those three’s landed because her Cats were in a zone defense designed to close down the paint.
“I wanted to play more zone,” she said. “When we were sitting in our zone, that’s when they were hitting all of their three’s. We weren’t rotating fast enough or getting to the ball.”
The Freddies’ exceptional shooting forced the Lady Cats to answer with some offense of their own.
Journey Blevins and Kori Marvin each answered with six points from the field, while Madison Amstutz added outside support with a trey.
The Lady Freddies still had the upper hand at the end of the first quarter with a 23-18 lead.
Even with Fredericktown’s solid shooting, Nauman told her crew the shots would eventually end.
“They were going to make shots and they were going to miss shots,” she said. “We have to be ready for those defensive rebounds.
“Truthfully, Fredericktown is not the best outside shooting team,” said Nauman. “So when they were making three’s, it was a snap of the head.”
NU’s defense tempered the Freddie shooters in the second quarter.
The Cats also picked up some buckets as Jordyn Hoffman got in on the action with a three-pointer.
As a result, NU cut Fredericktown’s lead to 31-29 at the half.
During the break, Nauman switched to a man-to-man defense paid off as the Lady Cats went on a nine-point run to start the third quarter.
“We switched up our man-to-man defense in the second half of the year and we have work horses,” Nauman said. “Maddy (Amstutz), Kenna (Ruhl), Kori (Marvin) and Jordyn (Hoffman worked hard on defense, along with everyone across the board.”
Hoffman found her rhythm from the arc by sinking a pair of treys.
Post players, Blevins, Gabby Zeigler and Sydney Bacon all hit baskets for a combined 10 points to help the Cats take a 50-35 lead going into the final stanza.
With the tide turned, NU didn’t let off the gas, matching the Lady Freddies shot-for-shot.
Marvin returned to form in the fourth quarter by sinking two shots from the field and remaining perfect from the free throw line with a pair of shots.
Bacon, Blevins and Zeigler added 14 points in the low post as NU cruised to the post-season win.
Nauman said she was happy that her team rose to the tournament pressure to keep its season alive.
“Anybody can win a game, so it definitely puts a mental aspect to each tournament contest,” she said. “It adds just a little bit more pressure that it may be the last game.”
Eighth-seeded NU will move on to the sectional finals against 14th seeded Columbus Academy.
Nauman said confidence levels are high as the Cats move down the tournament road.
“We are going to get everyone’s best game, because it is tournament time,” she said. “I feel confident with the team we have in their ability, confidence and leadership. We’ve just got to work hard.”
The Lady Cats (15-8) will host their contest against Columbus Academy with a scheduled tip-off at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
North Union
Blevins 6-4-16, Marvin 4-6-14, Zeigler 6-1-13, Hoffman 3-0-9, Bacon 2-2-6, Amstutz 2-0-6. Totals 23-13-64.
Three-point goals: Hoffman 3, Amstutz 2
Fredericktown
Weller 3-0-9, Daniels 1-6-8, Overholt 3-1-7, Nussbaum 3-0-7, Hulse 2-0-5, Swihart 2-0-5, VanHouten 2-0-5, Bouton 1-0-2. Totals 17-7-48.
Three-point goals: Weller 3, Nussbaum 1, Hulse 1, Swihart 1, VanHouten 1
Journey Blevins (24) leaps through a Fredericktown defender for a layup during the Lady Cats’ tournament opener. Blevins tallied a team-high 16 points during NU’s 64-48 win. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)