Bulldogs, T-Birds advance in girls

By Dave Boninsegna, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Friday, February 15, 2008 (9 months, 1 week ago)
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ELIDA — The Columbus Grove Lady Bulldogs overcame an 18-turnover evening to take the second Division III sectional contest on the Union Bank Court at the Elida Fieldhouse, 59-48, over Northwest Conference colleague Allen East.
Grove (14-7) never trailed in the contest and held off an 8-0 run by Allen East in the second quarter to move on in the tournament.
They will face the number 1 seed in the bracket, Liberty-Benton, on Saturday in the second contest of the evening.
The two teams combined for 34 turnovers in the contest but the ’Dogs shot 24-of-48 (50 percent) from the field to take the win. Morgan Kohls and Courtney Diller tallied 17 points each for Grove; Kristy Birkemeier added nine in the contest.
The Bulldogs controlled the inside, scoring 34 of their 59 markers in the paint, despite being outrebounded 36-34.
Brooke Vandermark led the way for the Lady Mustangs with 11 markers, while Kym Bowsher fell just short of a double-double, scoring nine points and pulling down nine boards.
The Bulldogs took early control, taking a 22-11 lead after the first quarter and a 35-29 lead into the break. Allen East (9-11) got to within four in the second as Brooke Vandermark hit a pair of threes.
The Mustangs were able to get a few long outlet passes for baskets early in the contest before the Grove defense was able to drop back, taking away the easy basket attempts.
“For some of our juniors, they had played in tournament play before and I think that showed tonight,” Grove coach Jerry Hoersten stated.
Both teams had players fall late in the fourth quarter. Bowsher was injured on a play under the basket and just moments later, Grove’s Genna Carpenter twisted her ankle after a shot attempt.
“She injured it before. We will have to wait and see it she can go Saturday. It is going to be a tough game; Liberty-Benton is a very good team,” Hoersten noted.
In the early contest, the Bluffton Lady Pirates (11-10) gave the favored Lima Central Catholic Thunderbirds (14-7) all they wanted as Katie Althaus hit a jumper with four ticks left on the clock to send the game into overtime.
In the extra frame, however, the LCC experience took over as they outlasted the Pirates, winning 56-49.
They move on to face Riverdale in game 1 Saturday evening (6:15 p.m. tip).

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