Sunday, February 28, 1999
Big second quarter lifts Conner to title
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HEBRON — Tim Shields is enduring the flood of emotions all coaches get just before retirement. In that regard, he'll soon have company.
Shields, who saw his Conner girls claim the 33rd District title Saturday with a 43-26 home victory over Boone County, is just one of three local coaches retiring after the season. All have advanced to the Ninth Region Tournament this week at Ryle.
“I guess it will be emotional for all of us,” Shields said.
Shields is now 301-180 in 17 seasons at Conner. Linda Moore, who is 322-242 in 21 years at Scott, and Dennis Soard, 247-119 in 13 seasons at Holmes, also saw their teams win district titles this weekend.
As district champs, those teams get a neck up by each drawing a runner-up from another district. The lone district champ who isn't retiring — Highlands' Luci Cecil — is a first-year coach.
With top-ranked Bishop Brossart playing in the 10th Region, No.2 Highlands (22-4) will be the favorite. But No.3 Holmes (20-6), No.4 Conner (22-4) and No.6 Scott (16-8) aren't far behind.
“Conner will be one of the favorites,” said Boone County coach Nell Fookes, whose team also advances to regionals. “Having four senior starters who've started together three or four years makes you awfully tough.”
That's what Fookes had the past two years when she won back-to-back Ninth Region titles, but most of that crew is now playing college basketball. Boone returned just one starter, senior guard Brigette Beimesch, and sophomore forward Ciara Henderson was the only other player who saw varsity action last season.
Though Boone (15-11) had endured a 67-37 beating Feb.8 by Conner, it made matters interesting Saturday for three quarters.
Conner came out cold, trailing 11-4 with a minute left in the first quarter.
Senior guard Kelly Rigsbee got the Cougars going with five quick points, which started a 15-2 run. Boone scored just two second-quarter points.
“We got behind, but we didn't come unglued,” Shields said. “I told the girls, "We've gotta win this game from the neck up.'”
When its lead was just 25-21 late in the third quarter and starters Becky Daughters and Amanda Donohoo were on the bench with four fouls apiece, Conner got big bench play from sophomore Stacey Martin (seven points) and junior Andrea Hicks (two points).
It held the Lady Rebels without a field goal for 14 minutes, ending only when freshman reserve Shannon Matheny hit a three-pointer with 18 seconds left in the game.
“We really wanted to stop them, so we stepped it up on defense,” Rigsbee said.
Daughters injured her wrist, and fellow senior Stephanie Allgeyer played through her own hand injury.
“We're afraid to get X-rays, because they might both come back in a cast,” Shields said. “We're holding this team together with Scotch tape.”
BOONE COUNTY (26) — Henderson 3 4 11, Schleisman 3 0 6, Beimesch 1 1 4, Matheny 1 0 3, Grobmyer 0 2 2. Totals: 8 7 26.
CONNER (43) — Rigsbee 5 1 13, Stasie 3 3 9, Martin 3 1 7, Allgeyer 2 1 6, Daughters 2 0 4, Hicks 1 0 2, Donohoo 1 0 2. Totals: 17 6 43.
Boone County ....... 11 2 8 5—26
Conner ....... 6 13 8 16—43
Three-point field goals: BC—Henderson, Beimesch, Matheny; C—Rigsbee 2, Allgeyer. Records: Conner 22-4, Boone County 15-11.
All-tournament team
Jennifer Stasie, Stephanie Allgeyer, Kelly Rigsbee, Amanda Donohoo (Conner); Ciara Henderson, Brigette Beimesch, Katie Schleisman (Boone County); Megan Otte, Kate Stanton (St. Henry); Allison Bell, Amber King (Simon Kenton); Holly Matteoli (Ryle); Amanda Beil (Heritage Academy). MVP: Jennifer Stasie (Conner).
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