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[ PREVIOUS STORIES ]

12-10-03: Fourth quarter downs Cards

Lehman remains undefeated after 15-6 advantage in final stanza

By MARC TOBIAS
mtobias@dailystandard.com

NEW BREMEN — Lehman was able to overcome a turnover prone first half to knock off New Bremen, 47-39 and remain undefeated in the young season.
The Cavaliers improve to 4-0 despite combining with New Bremen for 34 first-half turnovers.
Neither squad could adjust to their opponents’ pressure defense.
The Cardinals used a full-court press the first half, and with the Cavaliers missing two senior guards because of a senior trip, it was very effective.
One of the Cavalier guards that was missing was Hayley Hemm, who’s averaging 13 points per contest early in the year including a 24-point performance in the Cavs’ last game against Botkins.
New Bremen, likewise, struggled as the Cavs switched their half-court set with multiple zone and man-to-man defenses.
Both squads were able to settle down in the third quarter, but Lehman was the only team to carry that offensive punch into the fourth quarter as the Cavs outscored New Bremen 15-6 in the final stanza.
The Cardinals led most of the game, and were up 34-29 in the closing seconds of the third quarter, but that’s when Lehman took control, as it went on a 15-2 run to put the game away.
There were a number of reasons for the big run, improved rebounding by the Cavaliers and a cold shooting Cardinals team, and of course, the Cavs weren’t hurt by being in the bonus for the last 7:30 of the fourth quarter.
“We talked to the kids at halftime how the key was going to be rebounding,” said Lehman coach Dan Saunders. “We need to box out and get them going over our backs and go to the free-throw line. We have Hannah Scherger who’s an outstanding free-throw shooter.”
Lehman outrebounded New Bremen 20-15 in the second half and Scherger was able to make all six of her free-throw attempts, including four in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter.
Scherger scored eight of the first 10 points in the fourth quarter to put Lehman ahead, 41-34. She finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
The closest New Bremen got the rest of the way was five points when Kacie Schmiesing hit a free throw to cut the Cavs lead, 44-39.
“They just outhustled and worked us in every phase of the game, they were pretty physical and we didn’t respond,” said New Bremen coach John Storrer. “We got pushed around and we didn’t finish shots or make free throws. We didn’t make shots from the field and they gave us good looks. “
The Cardinals had 20 more shots than Lehman, but connected on just 22 percent (14-of-61) of those attempts.
Sarah Schmiesing was the only Cardinal to reach double figures, as she scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds.
Storrer added his team needs to find a way to finish games strong, as New Bremen led most of the first half and all of the third quarter.
“We’re not mentally tough enough to hold those (leads) right now, and with five seniors you’d think that’d be one of the easy phases of the game. Get the lead and put it away, but we haven’t been able to do that yet,” Storrer said.
After 18 first-half turnovers, Lehman had just six in the final two quarters.
“One thing we talked about was playing with a lot of heart and desire, and once we got the lead in that fourth quarter our defense and rebounding was the key to us coming back and winning,” Saunders said.
Emilee Seger added nine points and five rebounds for Lehman while Ashley Jacob added eight points and nine rebounds.
Kacie Schmiesing finished with five points and nine rebounds for the Cardinals.
New Bremen is back in action Thursday at St. Henry.

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