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Lakers fall to defending Class A state champs
JASONVILLE -- It might be the toughest opening night for any team in the area.
The Shakamak Lady Lakers tipped-off the girls basketball season with a 62-39 loss at home to the defending Class A state champion Vincennes Rivet Lady Patriots Tuesday night.
Despite the outcome, coach Troy Fougerousse noticed a solid improvement from the starting point last year.
"I think if you compare where we are tonight compared to last year we're in a better place," he said. "I still think the biggest thing tonight was the turnovers and the pace of play."
He said the Lady Patriots took control of the tempo early and took his team out of their game.
"It was a pace that we were uncomfortable with," he said. "I told the girls their press didn't bother us. We broke the press and made poor decisions once we did."
The Lady Lakers handed the ball back to the defending champs a whopping 35 times.
"Once we got the ball past halfcourt was when we made poor decisions," he said. "But overall not real disappointed -- we probably should have took a little better care of the ball but we'll move on from this."
On the bright side, Fougerousse's troops found a way to spread the wealth around as eight different players scratched a place in the scorebook.
Junior Megan Phipps, who ended the night 4 for 8 from the field, led the way with 10 points.
She was followed by senior guard Jade Gambill with eight while Lacey Gilbert and Jazmine Martin added five each.
The Lady Lakers also got four from Kelsey Pilant, two from Hunter Baker and one from Jerri Beck.
"We're going to have opportunity to play nine girls this year and maybe more," Fougerousse said. "So as the year goes on maybe that will benefit us against some teams."
Things never really developed in the favor of the hosts due to their inability to secure the basketball as they watched a respectable 24-13 deficit midway through the second quarter turn into a 36-19 gap at the half before the lead bulged to its final margin thanks to a steady increase by the Rivet offense in the second half.
The Lady Patriots, who led just 18-7 at the first stop, extended the halftime margin to 49-26 after three quarters.
"This isn't the team from last year and that's not taking anything away from them," Fougerousse said about the Lady Patriots. "They're still a quality class A team and they're going to be a tough team this year.
"So that's the kind of people we want to play."
Allyson Wehrheim led Vincennes Rivet with 18 points.
Shakamak dropped the junior varsity contest 40-11 as Miranda Pierce led the way with four points while Cecilia Ahlin added three and Savannah Turner and Sierra Hudson two each.
The Lady Lakers return to action Tuesday when they host Clay City at 6 p.m.
VINCENNES RIVET (62) -- Ellie Herman 7-14 0-1 0, Elizabeth Keller 1-5 2-2 4, Bailey Dreiman 1-10 2-4 4, Allyson Wehrheim 5-11 8-9 18, Lauren Herman 6-15 3-4, 15, Payton Meeks 0-0 0-1 0, Brooke Schutter 0-0 0-0 0, Carly Waggoner 1-6 1-2 3, Julia Pratt 0-3 0-2 0, Janelle Gartner 0-0 0-0 0, Makala Emmons 0-0 0-0 0, Vannessa Heinz 0-1 0-0 0, Bailey Niehaus 0-2 2-2 2. Totals 21-67 20-29 62.
SHAKAMAK (39) -- Megan Phipps 4-8 2-2 10, Lacey Gilbert 1-5 3-4 5, Jade Gambill 3-12 0-0 8, Jazmine Martin 1-6 2-2 5, Kelsey Pilant 2-3 0-2 4, Savannah Turner 0-0 0-0 0, Hunter Baker 1-2 0-0 0, Sierra Hudson 2-12 0-3 4, Jerri Beck 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 14-48 8-15 39.
Vincennes Rivet 18 18 13 13 -- 62
Shakamak 7 12 7 13 -- 39.
3-pointers -- Vincennes Rivet 0-3 (B. Dreiman 0-1, E. Keller 0-1, Wehrheim 0-1), Shakamak 3-10 (Gambill 2-4, Martin 1-4, Phipps 0-1, Hudson 0-1). Rebounds -- Vincennes Rivet 44 (Herman 8, Wehrheim 8), Shakamak 38 (Turner 5, Gambill 5, Phipps 5). Steals -- Vincennes Rivet 21 (L. Herman 5), Shakamak 10 (Turner 3, Phipps 3). Blocked shots -- Vincennes Rivet 3 (E. Herman 1, B. Dreiman 1, Wehrheim 1), Shakamak 2 (Pilant 1, Hudson 1). Turnovers -- Vincennes Rivet 18, Shakamak 35. Total fouls -- Vincennes Rivet 17, Shakamak 21. Fouled out -- Beck.