Fourth quarter spurt helps Toronto top Madonna
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TORONTO -- Toronto was able to turn the tide against Madonna.
Sparked by an 8-2 spurt to start the fourth quarter, the Red Knights defeated the Blue Dons, 45-38, in a varsity only game Monday night inside the George J. Kunzler Memorial Gymnasium.
“I thought we were finally able to get possession of the ball,” Toronto (3-9) head coach Rusty Hodgkiss said. “There were some balls we were able to get our hands on, but they would end up as jump balls, or Madonna would outhustle us for the ball. In the third and fourth quarters, we were able to possess the ball, and that led to run outs. We were able to be athletic. We were able to get our athletes out in space.”
The spurt gave the victors their biggest lead of the game at 12 points (45-33).
“Toronto is very good at causing havoc,” Madonna (0-6) head coach Cory Wingett said. “They caused havoc at the midcourt area. We had some turnovers. They caused havoc at the midcourt area, and we had some turnovers due to their pressure. They put pressure on you all over the court. They are very good at causing havoc. They do a great job of creating havoc.”
A 3-pointer from the wing to give Madonna an 8-4 lead, however, Toronto tallied the final 13 points of the quarter to take a 17-8 lead into the second.
“It was the same sort of thing as the later run,” Hodgkiss said. “Tonight is the first night we have had our full team available. We are finally getting healthy. We got on the boards tonight.
“I thought we were lazy at the beginning of the game. We were trying to make a play to put us up by 20. Once we slowed down, we became more efficient on offense. Defensively, we were able to cause disruptions. We were able to get our hands in the passing lanes and things like that.
The Blue Dons battled back in the second stanza as the visitors from Weirton ripped off an 13-5 spurt to pull within 22-21 with 2:43 left to play before halftime.
The girls from the Gem City led 24-23 at halftime.
“I thought Madonna shot the ball really well tonight. They did not shoot the ball as well over at their place. Vanessa was tough. (Anna) Backel was tough. Julia Wingett hit some shots. They shot the ball really well. We knew they could shoot the ball. Our whole idea was to put pressure on them. We wanted to get them out of rhythm. When they were in rhythm, they were able to get good looks, and they hit shots. They knocked them down.”
A Madonna 3-pointer tied the score at 26 in the third.
“We hit some good buckets at the beginning of the game, and that helped us launch out,” Coach Wingett said. “We took a lot of shots tonight. A lot of those shots came in our runs. We just were not consistent. We came out, and we shot well in the second when we made that run. We also shot the ball well in the third and even in the fourth. We just were not consistent.
“When we were able to get shots to drop, that is when we made our runs. We just could not get six or seven possession in a row. We were only able to get about two or three possessions in a row.
“That is a credit to their defense. Their defense creates havoc. They put pressure on you at the midcourt area. We are asking a lot out of our girls. I am very proud of the effort they gave. They have 100 percent for all four quarters.”
The Dons battled back, but they were unable to take the lead.
“We switched our defense,” Coach Wingett said. “We have challenged the girls to box out, box out, box out. We did a great job of doing that tonight. We knw every team we play is going to be taller than us. We know that about every team we are going to play. Tonight was the best job of boxing out we have done all season and all offseason. We have to box out. That’s is fundamental. We were able to rebound.”
Following Madonna’s run, the hosts regrouped and took a 37-31 lead entering the fourth.
“I thought we were up and down tonight,” Hodgkiss said. “I thought when we got engaged we became more focused. We had three kids playing one defense and two kids playing another defense at times in the first half.
“We did not show up focused. That points right back at me. That finger points at me. I have to do a better job of getting our kids focused before the game.”
The Blue Dons attempted to stage one final push to get back into the game, but they were unable to get within seven points in the final quarter.
“I am happy with our effort and our performance,” Coach Wingett said. “We have a young team. We just want them to give everything they have. As long as they give the effort and give everything they have, I don’t care about the outcome of the game. I don’t care if we win or lose. Obviously, you want to win, but if we go 0-22, but we learn and we get better and we fight hard, that is what I care about. I just want us to continue build and to continue to get better.
“It’s not all about wins and losses. You want to win, and you should cherish those wins, but we just want to get better. If we play like we did tonight for the next 12 or 13 games, and we continue to fight, I will be happy.”
Three players produced double digits in points for the Knights. Individually, Abby Liddick collected a team-high 13 points, Ashton Thomas scored 12 and Maryn Donnelly tallied 10.
“I thought our older kids – Abby and Maryn – provided good leadership tonight,” Hodgkiss said.
Alatis tallied a game-high 18 points to lead the way offensively for Madonna, while Backel and Wingett each collected eight.
“Katie Costa – No. 24 – she had never touched the ball before this year,” Coach Wingett said. “This is her first year playing. She scored a bucket tonight, and she got a lot of rebounds. Mia Pietranton – her heart is the size of the moon. She is full of fight. Julia Wingett had a great night on defense. She also scored eight points. That is what we need. We need to get buckets from her to take some of the pressure off of our seniors. We have to help them out.
“Vanessa had 18 points tonight. She shot the ball well. Anna Backel started out as a point guard. She is still a point guard. She’s so tough. Defensively, we moved her under the basket. Height-wise, she is outsized, but she works hard. She battles.”
The win enabled Toronto to sweep the season series against Madonna.
“I talked with my assistant Rocky Bragg after the game,” Coach Wingett said. “They beat us by 20-something in the first game. In that game, we did not play for all four quarters. Tonight, Rusty said we played all four quarters tonight. As a coach and as a parent, that is all I can ask. We just want to keep giving that effort. If we continue to do that, we will come out on the right side of one of these games. If we keep doing that, we will come away with a win.”
Hodgkiss previously served as an assistant coach on the Madonna girls’ team.
“They are rebuilding,” Hodgkiss said about the girls from Hancock County. “I think the made it to the state tournament last year. I still follow how they are doing over there. They are rebuilding. It happens to all of the small schools in the area, Eventually, you are going to hit a rebuilding year. I think they have a lot of first time players. They play with a lot of effort and a lot of heart. Their basketball IQ may not be there yet, but they play with a lot of effort.”
Toronto is scheduled to play Bridgeport Wednesday night at home. The varsity only game will tip off at 7 p.m. Toronto will also play Catholic Central in another varsity only game Thursday night on the road inside the Mickey Barber Gymnasium.
Madonna is slated to play Thursday up at county rival Oak Glen. The varsity game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Madonna will then play Valley Friday night at home.
Toronto 45, Madonna 38
Madonna 8 15 8 7 – 38
Toronto 17 7 13 8 – 45
MADONNA (): Wingett 4 0-0 8, Pietranton 1 0-0 2, Backel 3 0-0 8, Costa 1 0-0 2, Alatis 5 5-7 18, Sole 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 14 5-7 38.
TORONTO (3-9): Derrington 3 0-0 6, Liddick 5 3-4 13, Donnelly 3 3-4 10, M. Anderson 0 0-0 0, J. Anderson 0 0-0 0, Thomas 5 2-4 12, Keaton 0 0-0 0, Reeves 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 18 8-15 45.
3-POINTERS: Madonna 5 (Alatis 3, Backel 2); Toronto 1 (Donnelly)