By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – The Sheridan girls basketball team hosted Tipton Wednesday for a game that Blackhawks coach Jaidlin Bradshaw agreed could be called a “lesson game.”
That’s not a bad thing. Although the Blue Devils won 53-44, Sheridan held its own against a program that is a consistent winner, and this year features a 6-3 player in Ashlee Schram and three more 5-10 players.
“It was definitely a good lesson game,” said Bradshaw. “It made us do a bunch of different things that we haven’t done yet. And we really did prepare for them a lot. They’re very well-coached and disciplined.”
The ‘Hawks led 11-10 after one quarter Kenzie Garner, who provides Sheridan with some height at 6-0, scored seven of those points. Tipton jumped ahead during the second quarter, outscoring the Blackhawks 15-9 for a 25-20 lead.
The Blue Devils led by as many as 11 points in the third quarter before Sheridan came back to within 39-37 by the end of the period. Chaney Smith scored six points, while Ashley Webel hit a 3-pointer.
Allie Phillips made a 3 for Tipton to begin the fourth quarter, but Garner answered that with a triple to keep the ‘Hawks within 42-40. The Blue Devils took over after that, finishing the game on an 11-4 run.
“We talked about that after the game, about how important it is not to dig ourselves in holes like that, because then it’s such a long way to dig yourself out,” said Bradshaw.
Garner scored 17 points, while Smith added 10 points.
Sheridan is 3-7 and hosts Eastern Friday as part of Hoosier Heartland Conference girls-boys doubleheader.
“You always have a really good crowd, like this Friday, for example, we’re doing Youth Recognition Night,” said Bradshaw. That always brings many young kids to the game.
“It’ll be fun, it’ll be loud,” said Bradshaw. “It’s exciting and it’s just a really fun atmosphere.”
TIPTON 53, SHERIDAN 44
Sheridan FG FT TP PF
Lilly Chesney 3 0-0 6 1
Ashley Webel 1 0-0 3 1
Kenzie Garner 5 5-6 17 2
Chaney Smith 4 2-2 10 1
Jacquellynne Bates 1 1-1 3 4
Nova Cross 0 0-0 0 5
Shelby Eaton 2 1-2 5 2
Totals 16 9-11 44 16
Score by Quarters
Tipton 10 15 14 14 – 53
Sheridan 11 9 17 7 – 44
Sheridan 3-pointers (3) Garner 2, Webel 1.