Cardinals stop Speedgirls

BESSEMER - Pressure defense led to turnovers and turnovers turned into points for Wakefield-Marenisco as it cruised to a 52-39 win in an Indianhead and Porcupine Mountain Conference battle in the House of Noise on Friday night.

Basketball fans will look at the statistics and see that 5-9 junior Lauren Grace scored a 28-points and conclude she was the reason the Cardinals won. Grace had a terrific night and although she was the biggest contributor, W-M wasn't just a one-girl show.

"Our game plan was to play pressure defense," Cardinal coach Pete Yon said. "Our front three and back two on defense on our (full-court) press were outstanding. We got 31 turnovers to their 16 and we didn't capitalize or take advantage off all the shots we got off those turnovers. But I'm not upset. We played good D and kept them under 40-points. Lauren is so smooth out there, but everybody was contributing. Hallee and Kassidee (Yon) ran the (fast) break nice and we had good passing and were unselfish. Darienne Korpi had a lot of steals and Rachel Obradovich played good defense.

"I'm happy with everybody and the girls are feeling good. We're 2-0 in the Indianhead and 1-0 in the PMC."

Bessemer coach Richard Matrella agreed turnovers were the difference in the game but said there were other factors, too.

"W-M played well and it was a game of turnovers but only on one side," Matrella said. "Nothing W-M surprised me-diamond press and man-to-man defense. But it was a typical first game. (2nd for W-M). First game's tend to be sloppy no matter how many scrimmages you have.

"We only ran our offense well a couple times because we couldn't get into it because of the turnovers."

Matrella said there were some good performances on both sides.

"(Lauren) Grace hit those mid-range jumpers and rebounded the heck out of the ball," Matrella said. "(Speedgirl sophomore) Rachel Emery played great in her first varsity game. She had 11-points and rebounded well. We need players to step up because Whitney (Trcka) is a marked person but she still had big shots and made double figures (13)."

Yon was also impressed by Trcka's shooting.

"Whitney burned us when we left her alone," Yon said. "You have to account for her at all times."

Despite two early blocks from Bessemer's Jazzmyn Mc Geshick, the Cardinals jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind two baskets by Grace and Kassidee Yon.

Bessemer appeared to have some first game jitters and their offense looked herky-jerky and out of sync when it wasn't being harassed by W-M's pressure defense.

The Cardinals began to run the floor off turnovers and took a 12-5 lead after one quarter.

Starting the second quarter, Kassidee Yon splashed a 3 from the left corner.

But Trcka buried a triple from the corner and when Emery scored, the Speedgirls narrowed the gap to 14-10.

The Cardinal defense became even more suffocating and with 1:24 left in the quarter, Grace hauled down a rebound, took one dribble and then scored on a reverse lay-up that drew a big cheer from the W-M crowd.

It was 24-17 at the half, but Bessemer was still in it.

In the second half, W-M's Hallee Yon scored right off the bat, but Trcka drained a 3-ball and McGeshick' drive with a left lay-up whittled the lead to 28-22.

But W-M's pressure defense was relentless and the Cardinals out-scored the Speedgirls 14-4 for the rest of the quarter.

The fourth quarter was much the same and when Grace tossed in a baby hook and Korpi scored with with 2:31 left to give the Cardinals a 49-31 advantage, the deal had been sealed

Berssemer freshman Megan Peterson buried a long triple at the buzzer.

Trcka led Bessemer's offensive attack with 13-points, while Emery chipped in with 11.

After Grace scorched the nets with 28-points, Kassidee Yon added 11 for W-M.

W-M won the junior varsity game.

The Cardinals (2-0, 2-0 IC, 1-0 PMC) travel to Ironwood for another Indianhead game on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m.

Bessemer (0-1), 0-1, IC, 0-1 PMC) will play its second home game in a row against Ironwood on Friday at 7:15 p.m.

W-M - Saundra Libertoski 1, Lauren Grace 28, Darienne Korpi 6, Hallee Yon 2, Kassidee Yon 11, Heather Hemming 2, Brianna Dalbec 2. FTs: 6-11, Fouls: 17, Fouled out:none, 3-pointers: none.

Bessemer - Caitlyn Pelissero 5, Whitney Trcka 13, Rachel Emery 11, Jazzmyn McGeshick 5, Jordyn Maznac 2, Megan Peterson 3. FTs: 6-15, Fouls:.14 Fouled out: none, 3-pointers: Whitney Trcka 2, Caitlyn Pelissero 1, Megan Peterson 1.

W-M 12 24 42 52

Bessemer 5 17 26 39