By RICHIE HALL
NEW CASTLE – The excitement was twofold for the Westfield girls basketball team when it participated in the Raymond James Hall of Fame Classic Wednesday at the famed New Castle Fieldhouse.
First, the Shamrocks got a chance to experience the excitement and honor of playing in such a prestigious event. Then Westfield went on to the floor, and provided quite a bit of excitement during the tournament.
The Class 4A No. 8 ‘Rocks started their day with a huge win, beating previously unbeaten and 4A No. 2-ranked Franklin Community 42-40 in overtime. That sent Westfield to the championship game, where it gave South Bend Washington, the No. 1 team in 3A, all it could handle before falling 52-50.
GREAT EXPERIENCE
Shamrocks coach Ginny Smith said playing in the event was “a great experience.”
“It was a wonderful opportunity. But from a playing perspective, we didn’t shoot the ball well all day today. If you’re going to beat a good team, you just got to shoot the ball well,” said Smith.
Westfield fell behind 28-20 at halftime against Franklin in the first game of the Classic. Chesney Tebbe helped keep the ‘Rocks within shouting distance, scoring nine points in the half.
Westfield made a comeback in the third quarter, outscoring the Grizzly Cubs 15-4. Just like that, the Shamrocks led 35-32; Alyssa Crockett scored six points during the third period.
Hailey Remaks opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, and that gave Westfield its largest lead at 38-32. Franklin began to come back, and a scored the last basket of regulation with a putback to tie the game at 40-40. It was on to overtime, and there would be only one basket scored: Crockett made her own putback to put the Shamrocks on top for good.
Crockett scored 12 points and collected 11 rebounds, her first of two doubles-doubles for the day. Crockett also blocked three shots. Tebbe added 11 points and Emmrey Collinsworth pulled six rebounds.
Westfield got off to a strong start against South Bend Washington, last year’s Class 3A state runner-up, leading 13-5 in the first quarter. Crockett scored five points, Collinsworth and Olivia Robey both made 3s and Remaks scored off a steal.
REYNOLDS SISTERS
But the Panthers began an 11-0 run that stretched well into the second period, giving Washington an 18-13 lead that they would hold for the remainder of the game. The Shamrocks had to contend with the Reynolds sisters, Amiyah and Kira, both of whom scored in double figures during the game. Amiyah is committed to the University of Maryland, while freshman Kira is also getting attention. (A third sister, Mila Reynolds, has also committed to Maryland, but did not play at the Hall of Fame Classic.)
Kira Reynolds scored 10 points and Amiyah seven during the first half, which finished with the Panthers ahead 24-20. Washington continued to roll in the third quarter, reaching its largest lead of the game at 34-22 with 5:11 left. Westfield stayed close, though, as four points each from Crockett and Collinsworth helped keep the ‘Rocks within 40-31 going into the fourth period.
Westfield made a 6-0 run during the first part of the fourth to get within 42-37. Robey scored four points and Crockett took a rebound, then turned it into a jump shot basket.
The Shamrocks kept inching closer and closer, and finally got in a good position when Collinsworth drained a 3 with two minutes left to cut the Panthers’ lead to 50-48. Lauren Gillon’s layin got Washington back up 52-48, but Ellie Kelleher answered with her own layin with around a minute to go. That would be the last basket of the game, however. Westfield got one more opportunity, but a final shot didn’t go.
“We still had a chance at the end to win,” said Smith. The coach said she was proud of her team’s effort and fight.
“I think they really banded together in the second half,” said Smith.
Crockett reached double-double status again with 18 rebounds and 17 points. Collinsworth and Robey both added 10 points. Robey made five steals and Crockett had four blocks.
Westfield’s loss to the Panthers ended its win streak at 10 games. The Shamrocks are 13-3 for the season and play two big games next week, first at Bishop Chatard on Wednesday. Westfield hosts Hamilton Heights next Saturday, Jan. 8.
“There are some things that we are going to start shifting and adjusting to,” said Smith. “We’ve got to get more game-like shots in practices and we have to be more intentional in our focus.”
“I think we’re turning the corner and we’re going to spend more time on ourselves,” said Smith.
WESTFIELD 42, FRANKLIN COMMUNITY 40
(overtime)
Westfield FG FT TP PF
Ellie Kelleher 1-6 2-2 4 1
Alyssa Crockett 5-16 2-3 12 1
Chesney Tebbe 4-7 2-4 11 0
Olivia Robey 1-5 2-6 5 0
Hailey Remaks 2-3 0-0 5 3
Aubrey Crockett 0-1 0-0 0 0
Emmrey Collinsworth 2-4 0-0 5 2
Mikayla Rudolph 0-0 0-0 0 1
Kiki Loveless 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 15-42 8-14 42 8
Score by Quarters
Westfield 10 10 15 5 2 – 42
Franklin 15 13 4 8 0 – 40
Westfield 3-point shooting (4-12) Collinsworth 1-2, Tebbe 1-2, Robey 1-2, Remaks 1-2, Kelleher 0-3, Al. Crockett 0-1.
Westfield rebounds (30) Al. Crockett 11, Collinsworth 6, Tebbe 4, Remaks 3, Loveless 2, Kelleher 1, Au. Crockett 1, Rudolph 1, team 1.
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 52, WESTFIELD 50
Westfield FG FT TP PF
Emmrey Collinsworth 3-7 2-2 10 4
Alyssa Crockett 5-14 7-7 17 3
Chesney Tebbe 0-2 0-0 0 2
Olivia Robey 3-13 3-5 10 3
Hailey Remaks 1-10 0-0 2 1
Ellie Kelleher 3-4 1-2 7 2
Mikayla Rudolph 1-4 1-3 4 2
Kiki Loveless 0-0 0-0 0 1
Aubrey Crockett 0-1 0-0 0 0
Totals 16-55 14-19 50 18
Score by Quarters
Westfield 13 7 11 19 – 50
SB Washington 12 12 16 12 – 52
Westfield 3-point shooting (4-21) Collinsworth 2-4, Robey 1-4, Rudolph 1-3, Al. Crockett 0-5, Remaks 0-4, Tebbe 0-1.
Westfield rebounds (40) Al. Crockett 18, Remaks 4, Tebbe 4, Kelleher 4, Collinsworth 3, Rudolph 2, Robey 1, team 4.