BRODHEAD - Once Brodhead junior Amanda Pickel hit her first 3-pointer, she had a feeling it would be one of those games every shooter dreams about.
Pickel knocked down four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 25 points to propel the Cardinals to a 63-44 win over Walworth Big Foot on Tuesday night.
It was an opportune time for Pickel to shine after sophomore Carly Mohns suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury last week at Whitewater. Mohns, who was a first-team all-conference player last year, was averaging 14.7 points per game and 10 rebounds.
"Tonight, once I hit that first one I had the confidence," Pickel said. "Everyone is giving it their all knowing we have to step it up with Carly out. Everyone has to step up, it's not just me."
Coach Brad Pickett said the Cardinals can't feel sorry for themselves over losing Mohns.
"We have preached all year about defense and a team mentality," Pickett said. "Girls have to step up at this point now. We can't just have one person. We need everyone. Tonight, girls stepped up."
Brodhead junior Taylor Douglas scored 14 points and junior Brianna Hicks scored six points and had nine rebounds, including five offensive rebounds.
The Cardinals (16-3, 11-2 Rock Valley South) got out to a cold start, shooting just 6 of 18 in the first quarter. Pickel was 3 of 3 shooting and scored nine points in the first quarter as Brodhead trailed 17-15. That didn't last long.
The Cardinals went on a 15-0 second-quarter run to take the lead for good. Pickel scored on a layup to start the spurt and Hicks scored on two putbacks to give the Cardinals a 25-19 lead midway through the second quarter.
Douglas drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cardinals a 30-19 lead with 2:25 left in the second quarter.
"Giving up 17 points in the first quarter is unacceptable," Pickett said. "We did a better job of getting back and playing transition defense in the second half."
The Cardinals turned to their defense to jump-start a third quarter run. Pickel scored on a layup to give the Cardinals a 42-30 lead with 3:03 to go in the period. Hicks scored on a putback knocked down a 3-pointer at the end of the quarter to give the Cardinals a 47-32 lead.
"We did a really good job on defense and we got out and pushed the ball," Pickel said. "We had a lot of fastbreak layups."
Brodhead blew the game open in the fourth quarter. Pickel nailed a 3-pointer and made two free throws to help the Cardinals build a 54-35 lead. The Cardinals led by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Brodhead plays at Palmyra-Eagle on Friday before hosting Clinton on Feb. 23 and Parkview on March 2.
"One of our goals at the beginning of the year was to win conference," Pickett said. "Tonight, we got one step closer."
Pickel knocked down four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 25 points to propel the Cardinals to a 63-44 win over Walworth Big Foot on Tuesday night.
It was an opportune time for Pickel to shine after sophomore Carly Mohns suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury last week at Whitewater. Mohns, who was a first-team all-conference player last year, was averaging 14.7 points per game and 10 rebounds.
"Tonight, once I hit that first one I had the confidence," Pickel said. "Everyone is giving it their all knowing we have to step it up with Carly out. Everyone has to step up, it's not just me."
Coach Brad Pickett said the Cardinals can't feel sorry for themselves over losing Mohns.
"We have preached all year about defense and a team mentality," Pickett said. "Girls have to step up at this point now. We can't just have one person. We need everyone. Tonight, girls stepped up."
Brodhead junior Taylor Douglas scored 14 points and junior Brianna Hicks scored six points and had nine rebounds, including five offensive rebounds.
The Cardinals (16-3, 11-2 Rock Valley South) got out to a cold start, shooting just 6 of 18 in the first quarter. Pickel was 3 of 3 shooting and scored nine points in the first quarter as Brodhead trailed 17-15. That didn't last long.
The Cardinals went on a 15-0 second-quarter run to take the lead for good. Pickel scored on a layup to start the spurt and Hicks scored on two putbacks to give the Cardinals a 25-19 lead midway through the second quarter.
Douglas drilled a 3-pointer to give the Cardinals a 30-19 lead with 2:25 left in the second quarter.
"Giving up 17 points in the first quarter is unacceptable," Pickett said. "We did a better job of getting back and playing transition defense in the second half."
The Cardinals turned to their defense to jump-start a third quarter run. Pickel scored on a layup to give the Cardinals a 42-30 lead with 3:03 to go in the period. Hicks scored on a putback knocked down a 3-pointer at the end of the quarter to give the Cardinals a 47-32 lead.
"We did a really good job on defense and we got out and pushed the ball," Pickel said. "We had a lot of fastbreak layups."
Brodhead blew the game open in the fourth quarter. Pickel nailed a 3-pointer and made two free throws to help the Cardinals build a 54-35 lead. The Cardinals led by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Brodhead plays at Palmyra-Eagle on Friday before hosting Clinton on Feb. 23 and Parkview on March 2.
"One of our goals at the beginning of the year was to win conference," Pickett said. "Tonight, we got one step closer."
