ALBANY - It didn't take long Thursday for Albany to separate itself from Pecatonica. A 17-0 run in the first half gave the Comets all the momentum they needed en route to a 63-16 win.
"I was happy with our energy from the get-go," Albany head coach Derik Doescher said. "It was a good win for our program. Any win is a good win and we haven't had a ton of them the past few seasons."
The Comets (2-5, 1-0 Six Rivers East) wasted no time on the young and inexperienced Vikings (1-4, 0-2), jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first three minutes. Ninah McKeon scored the first basket for Pecatonica at the 14:35 mark, but from there it was all Albany, which scored the next 17 and closed out the half ahead 38-9.
"We emphasized effort in the second half tonight," Pecatonica coach Bobby Rose said. "The people that are giving effort are the people that are going to play."
Pecatonica is a young team yet again. After going winless a season ago, the Vikings beat Madison Country Day in the second game of the season. McKeon (team-high 5 points) is the only senior on the roster, which had four juniors, a sophomore and five freshmen.
"We have a lot of kids who are inexperienced," Rose said. "The biggest thing is we have to get better between the ears. We need to have better focus, get better at the mental part of the game. We can't let pressure get to us. We come in with a game plan that we need to try and execute better."
Albany, meanwhile, is dominated by juniors and seniors, save for sophomore Kristin O'Bel (15 points).
"They have a little bit more experience. They have a lot of kids that have been playing varsity since their freshman or sophomore year," Rose said. "The difference in experience between their kids and our kids was on display tonight."
The Comets are without two of the starting post players at the moment - Libby Beck (5-11) and Madeline Halverson (5-10). Doescher said the injuries have briefly changed the dynamic of his team.
"We have two of our starters out - two of our leading post players," Doescher said. "When we started the season, our mindset was to pound the ball in to our three post players. Suddenly with injuries it went to one nice post player."
In the post Thursday, Haley Freitag scored 14 points. Brook Kahler also had 14 and Sydney Mortaloni added 8.
"Haley had one of her toughest games earlier against Evansville. She struggled. But she's an awesome kid, and for her to bounce back tonight and put the ball in the hoop a few times was huge for her and huge for us," Doescher said.
Against Pecatonica, the Comets relied on a press defense, as well as an energy level that was turned up overall.
"In practice this week we changed it up and are trying to get the girls to show some more energy. I felt like it was there tonight," Doescher said.
Next up for the Comets is a nonconference game against Cassville on Monday, followed by Argyle on Thursday, widely regarded as one of the top teams in the conference this season.
The Vikings host Cassville Saturday and then Barneveld Thursday.
Doescher said that he likes what he sees from Rose's Vikings, and hopes that despite the tough season they stay at it.
"They are well coached. They will get better. Their program will get better. I really hope Coach Rose sticks with it because he's really put in a lot of time with those kids and I can see them getting better already," Doescher said.
"I was happy with our energy from the get-go," Albany head coach Derik Doescher said. "It was a good win for our program. Any win is a good win and we haven't had a ton of them the past few seasons."
The Comets (2-5, 1-0 Six Rivers East) wasted no time on the young and inexperienced Vikings (1-4, 0-2), jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first three minutes. Ninah McKeon scored the first basket for Pecatonica at the 14:35 mark, but from there it was all Albany, which scored the next 17 and closed out the half ahead 38-9.
"We emphasized effort in the second half tonight," Pecatonica coach Bobby Rose said. "The people that are giving effort are the people that are going to play."
Pecatonica is a young team yet again. After going winless a season ago, the Vikings beat Madison Country Day in the second game of the season. McKeon (team-high 5 points) is the only senior on the roster, which had four juniors, a sophomore and five freshmen.
"We have a lot of kids who are inexperienced," Rose said. "The biggest thing is we have to get better between the ears. We need to have better focus, get better at the mental part of the game. We can't let pressure get to us. We come in with a game plan that we need to try and execute better."
Albany, meanwhile, is dominated by juniors and seniors, save for sophomore Kristin O'Bel (15 points).
"They have a little bit more experience. They have a lot of kids that have been playing varsity since their freshman or sophomore year," Rose said. "The difference in experience between their kids and our kids was on display tonight."
The Comets are without two of the starting post players at the moment - Libby Beck (5-11) and Madeline Halverson (5-10). Doescher said the injuries have briefly changed the dynamic of his team.
"We have two of our starters out - two of our leading post players," Doescher said. "When we started the season, our mindset was to pound the ball in to our three post players. Suddenly with injuries it went to one nice post player."
In the post Thursday, Haley Freitag scored 14 points. Brook Kahler also had 14 and Sydney Mortaloni added 8.
"Haley had one of her toughest games earlier against Evansville. She struggled. But she's an awesome kid, and for her to bounce back tonight and put the ball in the hoop a few times was huge for her and huge for us," Doescher said.
Against Pecatonica, the Comets relied on a press defense, as well as an energy level that was turned up overall.
"In practice this week we changed it up and are trying to get the girls to show some more energy. I felt like it was there tonight," Doescher said.
Next up for the Comets is a nonconference game against Cassville on Monday, followed by Argyle on Thursday, widely regarded as one of the top teams in the conference this season.
The Vikings host Cassville Saturday and then Barneveld Thursday.
Doescher said that he likes what he sees from Rose's Vikings, and hopes that despite the tough season they stay at it.
"They are well coached. They will get better. Their program will get better. I really hope Coach Rose sticks with it because he's really put in a lot of time with those kids and I can see them getting better already," Doescher said.
