Rabbits race back in 2nd half, take down Greyhounds
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By Michael Fromm
Journal Sports Correspondent
NEW ULM -- The Wabasso Rabbits defeated the New Ulm Cathedral Greyhounds 52-44 in a varsity girls Tomahawk Conference matchup on Saturday.
Junior guard Jenna Hotovec led Cathedral with 22 points and four 3s. The Greyhounds had a consistent offensive attack with 30 first-half points but needed help to overcome a diamond press attack led by Wabasso senior guard Kelsey Frank's 24 points and nine rebounds.
Frank scored 8 points from the baseline against a Cathedral zone defense early. Despite her success, the Greyhounds' defensive pressure caused 16 turnovers throughout the game, keeping it close. Later, a Hotovec 3 and a pull-up jumper by sophomore guard Maddie Gilles gave Cathedral a 21-17 lead with 6:49 in the first half. To end the first half, Hotovec kept up the scoring with a fast break left-handed euro-step layup to give Cathedral a 30-22 first-half lead.
Coming out of the half, Wabasso went on a 19-2 run, led by Frank's 6 consecutive points and a collective defensive focus with a press defense.
Wabasso head coach Neil Dolan credited his team's defensive strategy in the second half for the large 19-2 run.
"The full-court diamond trap defense caused our team to get steals and made Cathedral have to adjust and speed up," Dolan said.
At the 9:59 mark, the Rabbits stormed to a 41-32 lead. The second half saw both teams increase the physical play, with both teams having to deal with foul trouble and substitution management.
Dolan said Hotovec's play in the first half was the main reason for the Rabbits' defensive adjustments in the second half.
"We switched from a zone to a man defense primarily because of Hotovec's scoring in the first half, which gave the girls momentum throughout the game," he said.
Freshman guard Abbey Hillesheim hit a much-needed 3-pointer with five minutes remaining to cut the deficit to 5 points. Later, a Hotovec steal and coast-to-coast basket brought the Greyhounds within 3 with over a minute remaining. However, senior Sophia Hanna helped ice the game with a corner 3, giving Wabasso enough to hold off Cathedral. Wabasso's Anistasia Smith scored in the paint to beat the final buzzer for the final 52-44 score.
Hanna finished the game with 12 points.
The Greyhounds (5-15, 3-10) will look to dust off the loss on Monday night against Springfield in a 7:30 p.m. home conference game. The Rabbits (8-12, 6-8) will attempt to add on to their weekend winning streak at home against Minnesota Valley Lutheran on Thursday night.