Abby Jones of Jonathan Alder, right, leaps for a layup while a London defender attempts to block her shot during a Central Buckeye Conference contest on Wednesday.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
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For the Lady Pioneers of Jonathan Alder, a 51-50 loss to London Wednesday came down to two things, according to head coach Steve Cawley.
“We didn’t rebound the ball defensively and turned it over way too many times,” he said. “That is the story. When we got back and set defensively, they couldn’t score on us, at least not very consistently, but they got three and four chances.”
The Lady Pioneers, who lost for the first time in seven games this season, started out with a hot hand and high tempo, pushing the ball over the top of London’s pressing defense for several easy layups.
The Red Raiders, though, were able to make some adjustments that took away the long pass for JA
The Lady Raiders were able to pick off some of those passes and convert those steals into points for a 16-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
“We are an aggressive team that likes to run the floor and kick the ball ahead,” said Cawley. “That is our game plan and that is what we did.
“London did a good job of scouting us and trying to take that away,” he said. “We also didn’t execute, whether it was not catching the ball or throwing away a pass.”
The Lady Pioneers made defensive adjustments of their own to begin the second stanza.
Those changes enabled them to slow down the Raiders.
London worked the ball down low, but the defensive arms of JA’s Corrine Parker and Jillian Jakse limited the Lady Raiders to 12 points.
Alder, on the other hand, found its groove behind Sydney Bourquin, who tallied seven points.
Abby Jones nailed a jumper and a three-pointer for five points.
As a result, JA took a 36-28 lead into the locker room.
The Lady Pioneers switched to a man-to-man defense that found success early in the third quarter.
That held the Lady Raiders at bay for a bit.
Back-to-back fouls by Bourquin, though, put her on the bench with four personals.
Jones was able to pick up the slack with four points.
Turnovers and the lack of rebounding, however, returned for the Lady Pioneers as London eroded its deficit to five, 44-39, at the end of the third set.
“We would get up because we are a quality basketball team, “ said Cawley. “However, we would piddle it away by giving them a second chance or throwing the ball away. They would run it down the court and make a layup.”
In the final stanza, London was able to take a 46-45 leed with five minutes left in the game.
Alder fought back to tie it at 48-48, but London went six-for-nine from the charity stripe down the stretch.
Jon Alder was only able to hit two-of-six during the same stretch.
Alder will return to the court Saturday to take on DeSales.
London
Colwell 6-1-15, R. Alexander 3-2-9, Mitchell 3-3-9, K. Alexander 2-2-6, Zablondil, 2-0-4, Boggs 2-0-4, Trimble 1-1-3, Mitchell 0-1-1. Totals 19-10-51.
Three-point goals: Colwell 2, R. Alexander 1
Jon Alder
Jones 6-4-16, Bourquin 5-0-12, Walbon 2-4-8, Ferrito 1-1-4, Bushong 1-0-2, Parker 1-0-2, Zawdony 1-0-2, Jakse 1-0-2, Shepherd 1-0-2. Totals 19-9-50.
Three-point goal: Bourquin 2, Ferrito 1.