By Bruce Monnin
Standard Correspondent
ELIDA — For the first three minutes of the championship
game of the Vicki Mauk Holiday Tournament, it appeared the Minster
Lady Wildcats were going to breeze to the title, scoring the
first 10 points of the game.
But a determined Elida Bulldog squad battled back to within
two points at the end of the third quarter, and the Wildcats
needed another 12-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter to
secure the 56-44 win.
Elida had no answer to Robyn Hoying, as she racked up 18 points
and 9 rebounds. In fact, the entire Wildcat offense came from
close range as Minster made no three-point shots and none of
their three foul shots.
Meanwhile, Elida relied on a pressing defense to keep the game
close.
“It was like watching a pinball game,” commented
victorious coach Nann Stechschulte. “There was never a
dull moment. It wasn’t always pretty but there was always
something going on.”
The Minster press contributed to its early lead, forcing Elida
into 10 turnovers in the first quarter. Elise Jenkins kept the
score close by hitting two consecutive three-point shots, but
that would be the last points she scored in the contest, being
shut down by Bridget Slonkosky.
“Bridget offensively had eight points and numerous assists
and did a great job on defense too,” complimented Stechschulte.
After the first quarter ended with the Wildcats ahead 16-11,
they stretched the lead to 32-22 at the intermission. Hoying
led the way with 12 first-half points and six rebounds.
The two teams played even the first portion of the third quarter,
but then Elida went on a 12-4 run to cut the Minster lead to
42-40.
“That’s what we talked about at halftime, just chipping
away a little bit at a time, but unfortunately, I think that
took a lot of our energy in the third quarter,” related
Elida coach Sue Skinner. “In the fourth quarter they just
blew it open.”
Elida seemed to catch a break early in the final stanza when
Hoying picked up her fourth foul and went to the bench, but
Amy Kremer took over under the bucket, scoring six of the points
in the Wildcats’ 12-0 run to start the quarter.
“Robyn sat out most of the fourth quarter and some of
the third, but Amy came in and did a great job,” added
Stachschulte. “I really think she was the difference,
she put the last nail in the coffin.”
“I think in the fourth quarter we were a little bit tired,”
confirmed Skinner. “But I’m very, very proud of
our kids’ effort.”
Overall, it was a balanced Wildcat offensive attack.
“I like the balance in the scoring,” stated Stechschulte.
“Robyn had 18, but then we had four kids (Kristen Shenk,
Karen Brackman, Slonkosky and Kremer) with eight points. I’ll
take that balance anytime.”
The all-tournament team consisted of Hoying and Slonkosky from
Minster, Amanda Suever and Mallory Rentz of Elida and Erica
Kirchner of Tiffin Columbian.
Minster’s overall record rises to 6-1 with its next game
coming on Thursday, Jan. 8th when they start a stretch of five
games in 10 days by hosting Versailles. Elida falls to 7-2 and
next hosts Coldwater on Friday at 1 p.m.
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