L//0 falls in PHS pressure-cooker
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| LaMoille/Ohio’s Lorraine Stamberger shoots over Princeton’s Allie Youngren Thursday at Prouty Gym. (BCR photo/Chris Yucus) |
PRINCETON — There might not have been a regional title on the line, or a packed house full of rabid fans, but Princeton’s Prouty Gymnasium was a pressure cooker for the visiting Lady Lions co-op Thursday night.
The host Tigresses clamped down with full-court pressure that forced LaMoille/Ohio into 13 first-quarter turnovers, as the Lady Lions were unable to move the ball up the court against the trapping Princeton defense.
The Tigresses jumped out to an 18-2 advantage after the first frame and never looked back, as they opened their 2009-10 campaign off with a 62-22 Lady Tigers Holiday Tournament victory.
“We did not handle the pressure at all tonight,” said Lady Lions coach Bill Stouffer.
“The girls played hard; they played really hard. That’s all I can expect,” said Princeton coach Spencer Davis. “It was a good first night for the girls.”
Davis said the cold shooting that saw Princeton manage only five points in the first four minutes was to be expected on opening night.
“That always happens in the beginning of the season. You get jitters,” said Davis.
Princeton junior Alyssa Wilson made her varsity debut for the Tigresses in style, coming off the bench in the first quarter to give the offense a spark with three straight buckets.
“She couldn’t miss; she was on fire,” said Davis. “That’s great, good for her.”
“I felt it gave us a boost,” said Wilson, who led all scorers with her 10 points.
Princeton’s talented trio of sophomores, C.J. Rhodes, Jasmine Kunkel and Kara Birch combined to score 24 of the Tigresses points, with Kunkel netting nine, Birch eight, and Rhodes seven.
“My sophomores are pretty good ... Those girls played exceptional,” said Davis.
Princeton spread the scoring around well, with senior center Katie Click finishing with eight, and junior Audra Ackerman as well as seniors Lacey Jensen and Molly Stephens each scoring six.
Lorraine Stamberger led the way for the Lady Lions with seven points. Haley Stouffer added six. Jennifer Hampton collected six rebounds for the co-op.
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