Morton vs. Metamora: 5 key takeaways
Morton remains as the class of the Mid-Illini as it took down it’s biggest threat on Thursday. The fourth-ranked Potters (10-1, 4-0) came away with a 68-39 win over Metamora. The Redbirds hung around for most of the first half…
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Continue ReadingMorton remains as the class of the Mid-Illini as it took down it’s biggest threat on Thursday.
The fourth-ranked Potters (10-1, 4-0) came away with a 68-39 win over Metamora. The Redbirds hung around for most of the first half before an eight-point push over the final 2:12 stretched Morton’s lead to 14 by halftime.
Morton’s Mid-Illini winning streak has stretched to 37 games with its last loss dating back to Jan. 22, 2016 against East Peoria (37-35).
Back to Thursday’s contest, there were some different defensive sets by Morton that threw a wretch in Metamora’s offense in the second half. Here are five takeaways from Thursday’s game.
1. Alana Terry is a difference maker for Metamora.
Alana Terry (2021) allows Metamora’s offense to do a lot of different things. The 5-foot-11 forward is athletic to where she can run the floor but gives a nice hi-low compliment to 6-foot forward Alivia West (2019).
Terry proved Thursday that she can take it to taller opponents, scoring all nine of her points in the first quarter and opening the game by converting an and-1 opportunity. The southpaw is able to finish with either hand, as she showed.
She’d be a great pick-and-roll option to compliment her post play and an outlet in transition.
2. Morton’s defensive showcase was suffocating.
Toepke Gymnasium was hot enough but the Potters picked up the pressure, particularly in the second half, when they set up their 1-2-1-1 press led by IESA state track winner and defensive wizard Raquel Frakes (2021). The open shots that Metamora was getting in the first half suddenly collapsed.
Morton went to a triangle-and-2 set and a box-and-1 in the second half, too, with a trapping element on the ball. That stalled Metamora’s offense to where it couldn’t get into its sets. There was no movement off the ball, ball screens or ball reversals to try and attack the pressure defense.
3. Depth in its rotations give Morton an edge.
The pace of the game was fast in the first half before Morton took control in the second half. That’s where a Potters edge came through as they went 11 deep into their rotation and didn’t miss a beat on offense or defense. Meanwhile, Metamora only went eight deep but its rotation was tight with six players playing the majority of the minutes.
4. Reality check for the Redbirds.
Metamora (9-2, 3-1) has to feel good about their season so far, having lost to two state powers in Danville Schlarman, 57-38, and Morton. But Thursday’s loss was especially interesting as University of Cumberlands signee Reagan Begole only took three shots, scoring five points in the first half.
With Katie Lalumandier (2022) playing big minutes as a point guard and showcasing quality 3-point shooting form, it might be worth playing Begole off the ball to take advantage of her athleticism and versatility to free her up.
West was active in getting to the free-throw line but was 5-for-10. Overall she had 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, one steal and one block.
Anne Peters (2019) had a slow start to the game, shooting just 1-for-5 in the first quarter, but hit her final two shots of the game to finish 4-for-9. Her 3-point shooting is valuable when she’s on but so is her defense at the top of the 1-2-2 halfcourt zone, which she really showcased Tuesday at Dunlap.
5. Morton’s offensive versatility is hard to defend.
Only twice has Morton been held under 60 points this season, which came in a season-opening win against Normal Community and a tough road win at one of Wisconsin’s best in Monroe. The versatility and size is hard to matchup against.
Butler recruit Tenley Dowell is picking up where she left off from an All-State campaign. She had 17 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 9-of-10 at the charity stripe. But she found open teammates and added three assists.
Alabama-Birmingham recruit Lindsey Dullard (2020) showed her 3-point shooting, going 3-for-7 from range, and her ability to get to the free throw line, where she was 5-for-6. She scored 16 points and added several dimes of her own.
Courtney Jones (2020) is another player that can play inside or out, though she is only 5-foot-8 compared to her 6-feet-tall teammates. Perhaps most valuable is her unmatched court vision that may not directly lead to an assist.
From there it gets into knowing a player’s role. Everyone can shoot from the perimeter and most can get to the basket off the dribble. Maddy Becker (2020) and Peyton Dearing (2020), an Illinois State soccer recruit, embody that. Then there’s Katie Krupa (2022) who primarily patrols the paint for Morton but can also expand her game to the perimeter. She’s already getting Division-I interest.
Lines of the Night
Morton
Tenley Dowell (Sr., G, 6-0) – 17 points, 4-7/0-1/9-10, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Lindsey Dullard (Jr., G, 6-1) – 16 points, 4-13/3-7/5-6, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Katie Krupa (Fr., F, 6-0) – 9 points, 4-6/0-0/1-2, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
Metamora
Alana Terry (So., F, 5-9) – 9 points, 4-9/0-0/1-1, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Alivia West (Sr., F, 6-0) – 7 points, 2-4/0-0/5-10, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Anne Peters (Sr., G, 5-8) – 10 points, 4-9/1-5/1-2, 1 assist