BRODHEAD - The Brodhead girls basketball team often is at its best in transition.
Thanks to a smothering defense, the Cardinals enjoyed many opportunities on the break and ran away with a 70-15 win against Palmyra-Eagle Friday night.
Brodhead limited P-E to just 14.2 percent shooting (4-for-28), including
1-for-15 in the second half, and forced the Panthers into 29 turnovers.
"Obviously, we talk about defense being the one thing that makes us go," Brodhead coach Brad Pickett said. "We preach defense every game. The girls are buying into it. There are some games where we may struggle shooting, but the defense can be there."
Brodhead (9-1, 5-0 Rock Valley South) jumped out to a 16-2 first-quarter lead with some solid outside shooting. Junior Amanda Pickel drilled a 3-pointer, junior Brianna Hicks scored down low and sophomore Jordan Halvorson hit a 3-pointer to spark the Cardinals.
Brodhead had a balanced attack, sophomore Rachel Heller leading the way with a game-high 13 points. Sophomore Meg Duffield scored 11 points and sophomore Carly Mohns added 10.
"We are focused on winning games with our defense," Heller said. "I think we proved that tonight."
Pickett said it's hard playing on the varsity as a freshman, as Heller did last year. Now, he is seeing Heller's time working on her game paying off.
"Rachel has matured a lot," Pickett said. "She has put in a lot of time in the summer and fall. She really stepped it up. It's nothing new for us what Rachel does. I was very proud of her effort."
The Cardinals broke the game open in the second quarter by using a press that gave the Panthers fits. Duffield hit a 3-pointer to ignite a 25-3 run. Heller scored on back-to-back layups to extend the Cardinals' lead to 25-9. Mohns scored six consecutive points to help the Cardinals take a 41-10 halftime lead.
Brodhead shot 59.5 percent (25-for-42) and poured it on in the second half.
"I think the difference in the second quarter was we were able to get in transition and get some easy baskets," Pickett said.
The Cardinals have several playmakers and have four players averaging seven or more points per game.
"I think the key is we all trust each other," Heller said. "When Carly, Mariah (Ahrens) or me are posting and we get double teamed, we know we can rely on our shooters to can it."
Every single girl matters on this team."
Brodhead now will gear up for a key conference game at Clinton (5-4, 3-2) Jan. 12.
"Some in the media picked Clinton to win the conference," Pickett said. "Going down there will be a test for us. They (Clinton) will be ready to go. Even though we are young with a lot of freshman and sophomores, we have played in a lot of big games before."
Thanks to a smothering defense, the Cardinals enjoyed many opportunities on the break and ran away with a 70-15 win against Palmyra-Eagle Friday night.
Brodhead limited P-E to just 14.2 percent shooting (4-for-28), including
1-for-15 in the second half, and forced the Panthers into 29 turnovers.
"Obviously, we talk about defense being the one thing that makes us go," Brodhead coach Brad Pickett said. "We preach defense every game. The girls are buying into it. There are some games where we may struggle shooting, but the defense can be there."
Brodhead (9-1, 5-0 Rock Valley South) jumped out to a 16-2 first-quarter lead with some solid outside shooting. Junior Amanda Pickel drilled a 3-pointer, junior Brianna Hicks scored down low and sophomore Jordan Halvorson hit a 3-pointer to spark the Cardinals.
Brodhead had a balanced attack, sophomore Rachel Heller leading the way with a game-high 13 points. Sophomore Meg Duffield scored 11 points and sophomore Carly Mohns added 10.
"We are focused on winning games with our defense," Heller said. "I think we proved that tonight."
Pickett said it's hard playing on the varsity as a freshman, as Heller did last year. Now, he is seeing Heller's time working on her game paying off.
"Rachel has matured a lot," Pickett said. "She has put in a lot of time in the summer and fall. She really stepped it up. It's nothing new for us what Rachel does. I was very proud of her effort."
The Cardinals broke the game open in the second quarter by using a press that gave the Panthers fits. Duffield hit a 3-pointer to ignite a 25-3 run. Heller scored on back-to-back layups to extend the Cardinals' lead to 25-9. Mohns scored six consecutive points to help the Cardinals take a 41-10 halftime lead.
Brodhead shot 59.5 percent (25-for-42) and poured it on in the second half.
"I think the difference in the second quarter was we were able to get in transition and get some easy baskets," Pickett said.
The Cardinals have several playmakers and have four players averaging seven or more points per game.
"I think the key is we all trust each other," Heller said. "When Carly, Mariah (Ahrens) or me are posting and we get double teamed, we know we can rely on our shooters to can it."
Every single girl matters on this team."
Brodhead now will gear up for a key conference game at Clinton (5-4, 3-2) Jan. 12.
"Some in the media picked Clinton to win the conference," Pickett said. "Going down there will be a test for us. They (Clinton) will be ready to go. Even though we are young with a lot of freshman and sophomores, we have played in a lot of big games before."
