Girls pick up one win; drop two

  Coach Bart Smith says his team is learning some important lessons this season.  The Lions (6-3) returned from the holiday break and posted a win, but then dropped a pair of games.  Coach Smith boiled the week down to one thing -- you’ve got to want to win more than the other team.

    CL 56, WC 47
    The Lions opened the second half of their season on the road at Webster City and they showed good intensity in a 56-57 North Central Conference win. 
    Clear Lake raced out to a 19-10 first quarter lead and never looked back. 
    Trudy Peterson had 20 points to lead the Lions.  Peterson sunk three three-pointers and was 3/4 at the line in the game.  Also finishing in double figures was Megan Loux with 13 and Meg Monson with 10 points.
    “Meg, Megan and Trudy did a nice job on the offensive end to get us through this game,” said Coach Smith.  “As a team our defense is lacking.  We need to start getting tougher on that end of the court and not give up easy scoring opportunities.  As coaches this is one area we can focus on down the stretch to make us a well rounded team.”
    Kaitlyn Pitzen put in six points for the team, while Madi Faber, Bailey Kibsgaard and Jenna Peterson had two points apiece.  Hannah Bartlett had one point. 
    Peterson was the leader in rebounds with five. Kibsgaard, Bartlett and Loux pulled down four boards apiece. 

St Ed’s 60, CL 42
    The Lions were hoping to gain some momentum in the conference race Thursday, but St. Ed’s shut the Lions down, 60-42.
    “We forgot to be physical and compete for rebounds,” said Coach Smith.  “We didn’t execute the little things in this game to allow us to win.  Too many turnovers and not enough rebounds.”
    The coach noted the Lions’ game plan worked to a “T”-- keep the Gaels’ leading scorer, Lydia Harvey, to single digit scoring.  That goal was met, as the senior team leader was held scoreless.  However, the plan didn’t include the Lions getting out-rebounded by more than two to one (49-22) and that difference spelled defeat.
    “Rebounding is just effort.  We need to find someone who is willing to do that on this team and take the lead in the area.  No one has yet,” said Coach Smith.  “We will struggle the rest of the year if we don’t become a better rebounding team.”
    The rebounding difference helped to lift the Gaels to a 15 point advantage in the final quarter.  The Lions kept battling and closed the gap to single digits, but misses at the free throw line doomed the come back effort.
    “I was proud of how our girls executed the game plan and kept battling for all four quarters.  They could have easily hung their head in the fourth when we were down 15,” added Coach Smith.
    Sophomore Logan Anderson led the Lions in scoring with 14 points.  Meg Monson had 11, followed by Trudy Peterson with six and Megan Loux with five points.  Kaitlyn Pitzen had four points and - Read More Via e-Edition