GIRLS' BASKETBALL - Plymouth ends tough stretch with win over Crestview

By SCOTT SEITZ
Reflector Staff Writer
sseitz@norwalkreflector.com

PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Big Red finished a tough stretch of games with a 62-43 win over the Ashland Crestview Lady Cougars on Saturday afternoon at Plymouth High School.
The Big Red are now 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the Firelands Conference. The Cougars slipped to 4-5 and 4-9.
“We were playing with tired legs today,” Plymouth coach Scott Speicher said. “We definitely didn’t bring our A-game. This was our fifth game in nine days.
“They (Crestview) have a good team with a couple of nice guards,” Speicher added. “It will be nice now to get a couple days off.”
Plymouth has a big home FC contest with New London on Thursday.
“I think we were down six the last time we played them going to the fourth and made a little run,” Speicher said. “This will be a nice test for us. They have a solid ball club.”
The Big Red had four in double figures on Saturday, led by Bre McVey’s 22 points.
Sarah Shirey added 15 points, while Nicole Lyons and Whitney Jacobs each scored 11.
Plymouth led 19-13 after one quarter and upped that lead to 35-23 at the half.
Speicher likes about everything he sees from his squad.
“But we do have some defensive identity issues,” he said. “We just need to work on some defensive things in general — defensive technique.
“The kids’ effort has been outstanding,” the coach added.
Speicher said the players have accepted their roles.
“Everyone knows what we expect of them and what their job is to do,” he said.
Speicher said senior Molly Miller is the floor leader.
“She’s started here four years,” he said. “She’s a little injured now, but she is a warrior and a tough kid.”
The game featured some turnovers, as Plymouth had 25 to 21 for the Cougars.
The Big Red collected 28 rebounds to 23 for Crestview.
Plymouth was 19-of-38 from the field and 20-of-26 from the free-throw line.
Crestview hit 16-of-46 in action shots and 9-of-16 free throws.
The Cougars were paced by Katie Shafer’s 13 points.
Janey Fulk added 11 and Allie Bise had eight.
“We kind of had our defensive lapses,” Crestview coach Tracy Richards said. “We put them to the line and looking at the book, the difference was definitely free throws.
“We just didn’t knock down our shots,” Richards added. “We had glimpses at times, but just aren’t consistent yet.”
Plymouth won the jayvee game, 59-27.


Boxscore
Crestview 43
Shafer 5-3-13, Janey Fulk 4-1-11, Walter 1-2-4, Bise 3-2-8, Wilson 1-0-2, King 1-1-3, Linkenbach 1-0-2. Totals 16-9-43.
Plymouth 62
Lyons 4-3-11, Jacobs 4-2-11, Shirey 5-3-15, McVey 5-11-22, Goth 1-1-3. Totals 19-20-62.
Crestview    13    10    13    7    —    43
Plymouth    19    16    12    15    —    62