ALBANY - Playing without starting point guard C.J. Dunwiddie, Juda girls basketball coach Curt Brown found out a lot about his team down the stretch, as the Panthers Thursday were able to hang on for a 35-30 win over Albany.
Dunwiddie missed her second straight game with an ankle injury. However, juniors Ellen Kiser and Katlyn DeVoe delivered in crunch time. Kiser had a double-double, finishing with a game-high 19 points and 11 rebounds. With the Panthers clinging to a 31-27 lead late in the fourth quarter, she made a game-changing play by blocking Albany sophomore Cassidy Bump's shot.
DeVoe scored eight points and made 6 of 6 free throws, including four in the final 37 seconds to seal the win for the Panthers.
DeVoe and Kiser combined went 11 of 12 from the free-throw line.
"Everyone knows if you are the next one up you have to step up and perform," Brown said. "She (DeVoe) did that tonight. The game just got a little wild. I'm happy they kept their composure."
Kiser lauded DeVoe for her play.
"Katlyn has done a great job the last two games," Kiser said. "Everyone knows if someone gets hurt we have to step up and work together even more. We all know that free throws are one of the most important parts of the game. Free throws can win or lose a game. When we go to the line, we have to have confidence that we can make them. We all count on each other in those situations."
Albany coach Bryce Pickett understands the Comets had several chances to tie the game down the stretch.
"We needed someone to step up and finish," Pickett said. "Their defense stepped up. We just couldn't get a good look at the basket."
When asked if he should have went to the press earlier with the Panthers playing without Dunwiddie, Pickett second guessed himself.
"We thought if we pressured them we could get some turnovers," he said. "It's definitely a tool we can use in the tournament."
Albany (11-10, 5-7 Six Rivers East) jumped out to a 5-1 lead after senior Rosy Bauman drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key. The Panthers (17-5, 8-4) committed six of their 15 turnovers in the first quarter, but just trailed 9-5.
The Panthers found their offensive rhythm in the second quarter. Kiser scored on a putback at 5 minutes, 49 seconds in the second period to give the Panthers an 11-10 lead. Juda senior Alycia Grenzow then hit a jumper to extend the lead to 13-10. The Comets led by as many as six points in the first half, but trailed 17-15 at halftime.
It was a see-saw third quarter. Cassidy Bump knocked down a jumper about midway through the third to cut the Panthers' lead to 21-19. Albany senior Sydney Bump scored nine points and had six rebounds to lead the Comets. Albany senior Courtney Pfeuti, who scored nine points, hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to again cut the Panthers' lead to two at 23-21. Kiser scored down low on the break right before the buzzer to give the Panthers a 25-21 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Comets were able to stay within two points through most of the fourth quarter, after a Pfeuti jumper and a Bauman putback. That's until the Panthers iced the game with their free-throw shooting.
"I think we did a great job defensively," Brown said. "To keep a talented Albany team to 30 points is great and if we make them work offensively maybe they will struggle defensively."
Juda, as a No. 3 seed in the WIAA Division 5 Evansville regional, will host Pecatonica on Tuesday.
"Hopefully by the playoffs C.J. will be ready to go," Brown said.
Albany received a No. 4 seed and will host Monticello in a regional quarterfinal Tuesday.
"I told the seniors we still have a lot to play for," Pickett said. "We are going into the tournament with some momentum. We still have a lot we want to accomplish this year."
Dunwiddie missed her second straight game with an ankle injury. However, juniors Ellen Kiser and Katlyn DeVoe delivered in crunch time. Kiser had a double-double, finishing with a game-high 19 points and 11 rebounds. With the Panthers clinging to a 31-27 lead late in the fourth quarter, she made a game-changing play by blocking Albany sophomore Cassidy Bump's shot.
DeVoe scored eight points and made 6 of 6 free throws, including four in the final 37 seconds to seal the win for the Panthers.
DeVoe and Kiser combined went 11 of 12 from the free-throw line.
"Everyone knows if you are the next one up you have to step up and perform," Brown said. "She (DeVoe) did that tonight. The game just got a little wild. I'm happy they kept their composure."
Kiser lauded DeVoe for her play.
"Katlyn has done a great job the last two games," Kiser said. "Everyone knows if someone gets hurt we have to step up and work together even more. We all know that free throws are one of the most important parts of the game. Free throws can win or lose a game. When we go to the line, we have to have confidence that we can make them. We all count on each other in those situations."
Albany coach Bryce Pickett understands the Comets had several chances to tie the game down the stretch.
"We needed someone to step up and finish," Pickett said. "Their defense stepped up. We just couldn't get a good look at the basket."
When asked if he should have went to the press earlier with the Panthers playing without Dunwiddie, Pickett second guessed himself.
"We thought if we pressured them we could get some turnovers," he said. "It's definitely a tool we can use in the tournament."
Albany (11-10, 5-7 Six Rivers East) jumped out to a 5-1 lead after senior Rosy Bauman drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key. The Panthers (17-5, 8-4) committed six of their 15 turnovers in the first quarter, but just trailed 9-5.
The Panthers found their offensive rhythm in the second quarter. Kiser scored on a putback at 5 minutes, 49 seconds in the second period to give the Panthers an 11-10 lead. Juda senior Alycia Grenzow then hit a jumper to extend the lead to 13-10. The Comets led by as many as six points in the first half, but trailed 17-15 at halftime.
It was a see-saw third quarter. Cassidy Bump knocked down a jumper about midway through the third to cut the Panthers' lead to 21-19. Albany senior Sydney Bump scored nine points and had six rebounds to lead the Comets. Albany senior Courtney Pfeuti, who scored nine points, hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to again cut the Panthers' lead to two at 23-21. Kiser scored down low on the break right before the buzzer to give the Panthers a 25-21 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Comets were able to stay within two points through most of the fourth quarter, after a Pfeuti jumper and a Bauman putback. That's until the Panthers iced the game with their free-throw shooting.
"I think we did a great job defensively," Brown said. "To keep a talented Albany team to 30 points is great and if we make them work offensively maybe they will struggle defensively."
Juda, as a No. 3 seed in the WIAA Division 5 Evansville regional, will host Pecatonica on Tuesday.
"Hopefully by the playoffs C.J. will be ready to go," Brown said.
Albany received a No. 4 seed and will host Monticello in a regional quarterfinal Tuesday.
"I told the seniors we still have a lot to play for," Pickett said. "We are going into the tournament with some momentum. We still have a lot we want to accomplish this year."
