G-H/V girls improve record to 6-5

Close game with Forest City; dominate Newman  

Following a poorly played game against Forest City on Tuesday night, Garner-Hayfield/Ventura’s Coach Matt Erpelding predicted his team would come back on Friday and play their best game of the season.  He was right.  The Cardinals picked up an easy win over Newman Catholic.

Forest City 35, G-H/V33

It may have looked like a last minute three-pointer cost G-H/V the game against Forest City, but it was a lot of errors leading up to that point that actually produced the loss, according to their coach.

“We struggled executing our offense.  We didn’t shoot a single free throw in the entire game, which 

means we weren’t attacking the basket and we lost our composure in the fourth quarter,” said Coach Matt Erpelding.

The Cardinals managed a slight 16-13 lead by halftime and had a strong third quarter, outscoring the Indians, 13-6.  But the wheels fell off in the fourth quarter.  The Cards only took six shot attempts in the fourth quarter and committed five turnovers.  A big shot by Bri Bier with :15 seconds remaining put G-H/V up by one point, but a Forest City player hit a three-pointer with :05 seconds remaining for a 35-33 victory.  

Maddie Tusha led the scoring with 12 points.  Bier and Hannah Hutcheson contributed eight and seven points respectively.  Scoring two points apiece were Mackenzie Haag, Tiara Van Gerpen and Emily Spilman.

Van Gerpen led the team under the boards with five rebounds, Bier and Spilman each grabbed four.

Bier led the team in assists with four and Tusha led in steals with five.

“I will be the first to admit I made some poor coaching decisions throughout this game,” said Erpelding.  “As I get a better feel for how this group, as well as individuals, react to certain scenarios, I will be able to make better decisions.  I would be shocked if my girls don’t come out Friday with our best performance of the year.”  

G-H/V 52, Newman 23

Coach Matt Erpelding called it, when he predicted his team would come back strong on Friday - Read More Via e-Edition