Friday, March 17, 2000
E. Brown girls lose in state semis
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS — Caity Matter won't begin playing basketball for Ohio State until next season, but the 5-foot-10 senior forward for Bluffton already likes her new home at the Schottenstein Center.
Matter was a one-girl wrecking crew, scoring 32 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in leading the Pirates to a 64-51 victory over Eastern Brown in the Division III state semifinals.
Although Matter played an important role offensively, it was senior Abbie Fett who was the key defensive player, limiting Eastern Brown's leading scorer Micah Harvey to three points during the first three quarters.
“We knew that their guards (Harvey and Elizabeth Burrows) were good outside shooters and could penetrate well,” Bluffton coach Dennis Lee said. “We put Caity and Abbie out front and they got it done.”
With Harvey neutralized until the fourth quarter, Burrows was forced to take over. She scored five in the first quarter when Bluffton took a 15-9 lead.
Bluffton's press late in the first quarter and into the second proved to be the difference in the game.
Leading 10-9 with 2:40 remaining in the opening quarter, Buffton went on a 20-0 run. Matter scored eight of the 20 to give the Pirates a 30-9 advantage.
Harvey's first points of the game, a 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining, enabled the Warriors to pull within 16 (32-16) at halftime.
“I usually don't call many timeouts in the first half,” Eastern Brown coach Richard Kiser said. “I called two tonight and probably should have used three to slow them.”
The Pirates extended their lead to 21 (50-29) after three quarters with Matter again leading the way.
Down 21 with 5:40 remaining, the Warriors began pressing and forced five straight Bluffton turnovers. This led to an 11-0 run that pulled them within 10 with 2:32 remaining.
Matter again stepped up, hitting a 3 and four consecutive free throws to ice the victory.
“We were here last year and that experience was a factor,” Matter said. “We were relaxed and ready to have some fun. I think I'm going to like playing here.”
Kiser was surprised that the zone was so effective.
“We used the press all season and it was effective,” Kiser said. “But they were big and it's hard to press a team like this because they throw the ball over the press.”
Borrows, who averages 17 points and scored a team high 19, came into the interview room crying.
“It hurts bad,” Burrows said. “It tore us up going into the locker room after the game. We're not satisfied and we'll probably start tomorrow working for next year.”
Eastern Brown finished with a 25-1 record while No. 1 Bluffton advances to Saturday's championship game against Regina.
EASTERN BROWN (51) — Jodrey 3-7 0-0 7, Dickston 3-10 0-0 7, Burrows 8-16 1-1 19, Harvey 3-12 0-0 7, Scott 4-7 0-0 11, Ratliff 0-1 0-0 0, A. Hauck 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 21-54 1-1 51.
BLUFFTON (64) — Schaaf 7-11 0-0 14, Matter 8-15 12-12 32, Buroker 3-8 1-2 7, Holt 0-10-0 0, Fett 1-3, 2-2 4, August 1-1 0-0 2, McCullough 0-1 0-0 0, Worthington 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 22-42 15-16 64.
Eastern Brown ....... 9 7 13 22—51
Bluffton ....... 15 17 18 14—64
3-pointers: EB 8-24 (Jodrey, Dickston, Burrows 2, Harvey 1, Scott 3). B 5-9 (Matter 4, August. Rebounds: EB 16 (Jodrey 3, Dickston 3, Burrows 3). B 35 (Matter 1). Assists: EB 8 (Harvey 4). B 16 (Fett 5). Turnovers: EB 13, B 20. Officials: David McRoberts, Susan Mani, Scott Smith. Attendance: 5,000.
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