Lady Mikes hold off rival Lady Maples, 56-43
No matter what the sport – basketball, football, volleyball, baseball – when Carmichaels and Mapletown compete against each other, you can count on it being very competitive and high spirited. Last night’s contest between the Lady Mikes and Lady Maples was no exception as the Lady Mikes defeated the Lady Maples, 56-43, in a Section 2-A contest that did not disappoint.
“This is one game I don’t have to say anything motivational,” said Lady Mikes coach Jim Lane. “All you have to say is Mapletown and they’re ready to go.”
The Mikes used a balanced scoring attack with three girls in double figures. Autumn Willis led the charge with 17 followed by Megan Wood’s 14 and Christina Antonelli’s 11. Wood also had 15 rebounds and five blocked shots. It was Wood’s third straight game with at least 15 rebounds.
“We have good balance,” added Lane. “We have four or five kids who can score. It’s nice because you really can’t focus on one or two of them.”
Kaylin Matthews led all scoring with a game-high 20 points for the Lady Maples. She was shadowed all night by a number of Lady Mikes and did not rattle.
“She’s a player,” commented Lady Maples coach Dwight DeCarlo on his senior scorer. “Kaylin is so coachable. It’s a game and she knows it. She’s having fun.”
Carmichaels and Mapletown both battled hard the first half with the Lady Mikes leading at the half, 31-22. Each team had its share of runs with Autumn Willis leading the scoring with 14 and Matthews tallying 11.
The Lady Maples came out the second half on fire and outscored the Lady Mikes 12-8 in the quarter to pull within five points, 39-34. Matthews again led the Lady Maples, scoring six.
The breakdown in the third quarter was problematic for coach Lane, who said, “We haven’t put together a full 32-minute game. It concerns me because we almost got nailed by it tonight.”
The third quarter may have shaken up Lane, but it seemed to have no effect on his team. After Lady Maple Jessica Shuppe scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to make the score 39-35, the Lady Mikes ran off nine straight points, highlighted by a behind-the-back pass to Jessica McMinn on a fast break for a score. The play seemed to give the Lady Mikes the spark they needed.
The two teams exchanged baskets the rest of the game as neither team could capture the momentum to make the final 56-43.
“They have a veteran team,” noted DeCarlo on the Lady Mikes. “They have a lot of experience and they’re good.”
“I’m proud of my kids,” DeCarlo added. “They hung in and fought hard.”
The Lady Maples return to action Monday hosting Avella, and the Lady Mikes host California.