In order to have a chance against a tough team from Anderson, Westfield coach Ginny Smith said that her Shamrocks tried a strategy that was “very out of the ordinary for us.”
“We played a zone,” said Smith. “We’ve never played a zone.”
It was a different kind of defense from the ‘Rocks, but it worked in the end: Westfield finished the game on a 7-0 run to secure a 46-40 victory over the Indians Tuesday at The Rock. With the win, the Shamrocks improved to 10-5.
Westfield trailed 40-39 late in the fourth quarter. Sophia Kreag tied the game with a free throw, then later gave the ‘Rocks the lead with a layin. Westfield’s defense did its job on the other end, and Jade Shipley made four consecutive free throws to clinch the win.
“I’m glad that Jade hit those free throws down the stretch,” said Smith. “That’s been big. We had struggled from the line all year long, so I’m never comfortable if that’s what it’s going to come down to. But I will say, Jade went up there, she was confident and she knocked down her free throws, and that was big for us.”
The Shamrocks led 12-8 after the first quarter and 24-19 at halftime. Ryann Bunting helped out big-time in the second period, hitting two 3-pointers on her way to eight points in the quarter.
Anderson began to make its way back into the game in the third quarter, and caught up to the ‘Rocks into the fourth before Westfield made its big finish.
“At this point, we’re relying on our defense, just trying to keep us in games and then hoping that we can get some buckets down the stretch, which we did,” said Smith.
In fact, the 40 points the Shamrocks allowed is under their defensive average of 45.3 points per game. The zone worked, even if it was an unusual strategy.
“I’m not a zone person, never have been,” said Smith. “But I felt like to give us a chance, we’d have to play some zone. We played more zone in this game than we played man, and that’s probably the first time ever in Westfield history that’s happened, since me or Shane (Sumpter) was the coach.”
Sumpter coached Westfield from 2008-15 before becoming the Shamrocks’ boys coach; Smith started as the Westfield girls coach in 2015.
“I think this is one of those situations where we did what we had to do,” said Smith. “They’re just so quick and athletic, I don’t know that we could’ve contained the dribble one-on-one.”
Shipley finished the game with 13 points, while Bunting wound up with 10. Kreag led the rebounding with nine, followed by Annabelle O’Hair with six, and Ava Henson and Bunting with five each. Bunting also blocked two shots.
The ‘Rocks are now off until next Thursday, Dec. 28, when they play at Frankton.
Westfield’s Sophia Kreag (21) started a 7-0 run for the Shamrocks with a free throw and basket, and that helped Westfield to a 46-40 win over Anderson Tuesday at The Rock. Pictured in the background is Jade Shipley (5), who made four consecutive free throws to finish the game. (Richie Hall)