By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
The Guerin Catholic girls basketball team finally broke through for their first win of the season Friday, beating Shelbyville 55-51 at the Eagles Nest.
The Golden Eagles recovered from a slow first quarter to take the lead into halftime, then held off a final comeback by the Golden Bears in the fourth period. Credit solid defense and free-throw shooting – the good, old-fashioned fundamentals – for GC’s win.
Guerin coach Dave Roth noted that his team has played a “really tough schedule” over the early part of the season. The Golden Eagles had gotten chances to win games earlier in the season, “but we just haven’t been able to pull that off because our confidence level got so low,” said Roth.
“Hopefully they can take this with a grain of salt, and they can keep working hard and continue to build on what we’ve got going here,” said Roth.
Guerin Catholic trailed 11-6 after the first quarter, with Nicole Cunningham hitting two 3-pointers for GC’s points. The Golden Eagles worked their way back into the game in the second period, eventually leading 28-25 by halftime. Sydney Geis and Mary Theresa Ford both scored nine points; in a harbinger of things to come, Geis went 4-of-4 from the free-throw line and Ford was 2-for-2.
“To come out and dominate the second quarter to the level that we did showed the fight that the girls had in them,” said Roth. “They know that they can play. We’ve played top 10 teams in the state, we’ve played top 50 teams in the state and we’ve played with them for quarters at a time. For us it’s just a matter of getting those quarters in order and trying to play four good ones. We missed it tonight by one, so we got to keep working at it.”
The Golden Eagles remained in front throughout the third period, leading 38-33 by the quarter’s end. Cunningham drained another 3-pointer.
Guerin Catholic held its largest lead early in the fourth period, when a layin by Ford and yet another 3 from Cunningham (her fourth of the game) put GC ahead 47-39. At that point, the Golden Bears made a 9-1 run to the tie the game at 48-all, then 49-all.
But the Golden Eagles were able to finish the game from the line. Cunningham made 4-of-6 foul shots in the fourth period, then Geis went 4-for-4 in the final 24 seconds to seal the game.
“From the line, we finished really, really well,” said Roth. “Both Sydney and Nicole knocked down shots. That’s good for us. We’re a better free throw shooting team this year. We work a lot on it in practice. So to be up at the 75, 80 (percent) mark for some of these girls from the free-throw line, that’s where we want to be.”
Three GC players landed in double figures. Cunningham finished with 18 points, while Geis scored 15, including an 8-of-8 effort from the free-throw line. Ford added 13 points. Sarah Holba grabbed seven rebounds.
The Golden Eagles will next play at Franklin County on Wednesday for the ETC Whitewater Valley Classic. Guerin Catholic takes on host Franklin County in its first of two pool games at 9 a.m., then take on Tipton at 12:30 p.m. in the second pool game. Pool play will determine a placement game that is set for Thursday.
ABOVE: Guerin Catholic’s Nicole Cunningham puts up a shot during the Golden Eagles’ girls basketball game with Shelbyville Friday night at the Eagles Nest. Guerin Catholic beat the Golden Bears for its first win of the season. Cunningham scored 18 points.
BELOW: Sydney Geis scored 15 points for Guerin Catholic. (Richie Hall)
