Gunfight at the O’G Corral
High Noon – Saturday!! Just Friday night, top-ranked O’Gorman held RC Central down, 45-25, while #2 RC Stevens put the clamps on SF Roosevelt, 45-27. Intense defense takes over when players’ focus targets the season’s biggest game, so far. Both…
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Continue ReadingHigh Noon – Saturday!! Just Friday night, top-ranked O’Gorman held RC Central down, 45-25, while #2 RC Stevens put the clamps on SF Roosevelt, 45-27. Intense defense takes over when players’ focus targets the season’s biggest game, so far.
Both rosters are loaded. Creighton signee Emma Ronsiek versus USD signee Kayla Watson. Seniors Carly Kunkel & Allison Crouch versus Grace Martin. Juniors: Izzy Moore & Raegan Reilly take on Kennadi Rising, Jaden Matkins, & Grace Ellis. RCS sophomores Bailee Sobscak & Jayda McNabb beat on Hannah Ronsiek & Bergen Reilly(actually a 2023). Sounds like great fun, and a preview of State tournament foes/finalists(?).
Turns out that Kyah Watson could not play, having tweaked/strained/pulled something Friday night. Pending a medical examination. Watson’s return is essential to RCS’s hopes for post-season glory.
In the first half, Kenadi Rising drove to score, or distribute, which offset Jayda McNabb’s benching due to foul #2 at 5:23 of the first quarter. Grace Martin had a trey at 2:05 to make the score 12-8 at the qtr break. RCS did crash the boards, while Izzy Moore’s quickness everywhere was the difference-maker.
Attacking the O’G zone devolved to perimeter pass around or dribble around, lacking timely cutters, screens, and motion to move defenders out of position. When energy was exhibited, rather aimlessly and with limited results, the O’G zone controlled it well. Halftime score 24-20.
Both teams went fast after half-time, as run-n-gun prevailed. McNabb took her third foul, but Kunkel missed all three FT’s. And, the Raiders’ other bad habits returned: turn-overs, and poor shot selection. Gradually, O’G pulled away with inside-out passing, 3-pt bombs from Emma Ronsiek (4 made plus a deep two), and a 2-3 zone (or variant) that shut off penetration and controlled RCS rebounding. Bailee Sobczak scrapped and battled inside against O’G’s rotating and collapsing zone but few teammates flashed through or screened inside.
The 58-40 final tally reflected O’G’s talents exploitating RCS’s (correctable) errors. Great display of shot selection by the O’G trio of Emma, Hannah, & Izzy.
Harrisburg now looms as the primary threat to O’G’s title run; Feb 7th at Harrisburg. After that duel, we might see a March re-match between the Knights and Raiders in the Sanford PREMIER Center. Watching both teams at full strength makes for the stuff of dreams!