This past Friday night, Manual’s girls’ varsity basketball team crushed the Shawnee Golden Eagles 86-29. The Lady Crimsons dominated both sides of the ball, increasing their lead by high, double-digit points, which ultimately resulted in a running clock during the second half.
First Half:
To start off the game, Manual received the ball following tipoff. Electra Lovely-Tolbert (#4, 12) attempted a three-pointer, but missed. However, Manual got the ball back quickly, and Ahmari Brice (#0, 9) sank a three-pointer, marking Manual’s first points of the game.
A quick Manual steal allowed Kendall Hemmerle (#12, 10) to score a layup. London Bibb (#20, 11) was then fouled, and headed to the free-throw line, where she made both free throws. Lovely-Tolbert stole the ball a few plays later, making another basket. Hemmerle then scored another basket, followed by a steal, where she was ultimately fouled. At this point in the game, with 4:45 left in the first quarter, Manual led Shawnee 13-0.
Lovely-Tolbert was then fouled, making one of two free throws. Two, long passes back towards Shawnee’s basket allowed Jermiya Bracken (#11, 9) to score. Cameron Brooks (#14, 9) was fouled, and despite only making one free throw, the ball was rebounded after her miss by Takenzie Young (#9, 1), who made a basket. Shawnee was finally able to score following Young’s shot. A timeout was called shortly after with Manual maintaining their lead, 21-3 with a 2:30 left in the quarter.
Brooks was fouled again, making one of two free throws. A foul was called on Manual the following play, but Hemmerle answered back with a basket due to a steal and two free throws after getting fouled. Another foul was called on the Lady Crimsons, where Shawnee made one free throw. Bibb then made another field goal and Celeste Hector (#32, 12) was fouled, making one of two free throws. To end the quarter, Olivia Blackmer (#33, 10) drilled a three-pointer, making the score 32-4, in Manual’s favor.
At the start of the second quarter, Hector shot a quick basket. Shawnee answered back with a basket of their own, but Manual followed with another made shot. Brice then shot another three-pointer and Young made yet another layup. Shawnee was able to make another basket, but not before Brice drilled another three-pointer. However, Shawnee answered back with another two-pointer. Ella Davis (#30, 9) was then fouled, making one of two free throws. However, she redeemed herself with a quick basket during Manual’s next possession.
The Lady Crimsons further increased their lead off of a basket by Brooks and back-to-back three-pointers by Davis and Brooks. Shawnee was able to score two more baskets, and during one of their possessions, the play resulted in an and one. Davis was fouled following this, making one free throw. At the sound of the buzzer, marking halftime, Manual led Shawnee 58-16.
Second Half:
Due to the Lady Crimsons’ large lead, a running clock was established. The clock would only stop during timeouts and free throws.
Manual came out of the locker room with much motivation. Young shot a successful basket off the bat. Shawnee’s first possession following halftime resulted in an and one, but they missed the free throw. Young then made another layup, and after Shawnee answered back with a shot of their own, Young made yet another basket off of a steal.
Shawnee was not giving up yet, however, as they made their first three-pointer of the game. Bracken then made a layup and during an attempted two-pointer, Brooks was fouled, marking another and one play. Brooks later made another three-pointer a couple plays later. Bracken also made another shot. At the end of the third quarter, the Lady Crimsons led the Golden Eagles, 74-27.
To start the fourth quarter, Shawnee made a two-pointer, but Manual followed with a basket of their own and a shot made by Brooks off of a steal. Another basket made by Manual further increased their score. Davis was then fouled, making one of her free throws.
A timeout was called by Manual a few minutes before the end of the game. Following the small break, Davis scored again off of a basket and a foul, making both free throws. Brooks followed with another basket before the end of the game.
The Lady Crimsons won with a final score of 86-29, improving their record to 16-9. With only one week left in the regular season, their final two matchups include away games against Butler on Tuesday, Feb. 18, and the annual rivalry match against Male on Friday, Feb. 21.
