By Dan Harney
HAGERSTOWN — When the Seton Catholic Lady Cardinals flew into Robert E. Clark gymnasium Friday evening, they were greeted by a team that has stepped up its game recently. Wearing uniforms provided by the Indiana National Guard, the Lady Tigers, who got off to a disappointing start this season, are starting to find their rhythm.
The Lady Tigers won for the third time in their last four outings, dominating the overmatched Cardinals 58-17.
The outcome was determined early.
The Lady Tigers played stifling defense, dominated the boards and shared the basketball in building a 19-8 lead after one quarter. The eight points the Cardinals scored in the first quarter turned out to be their most productive quarter of the night.
The Lady Tigers had the hot hand in the first quarter. Six Tigers scored in the period, led by eight points from sophomore Hallie Rogers. The Tigers built a 15-3 lead before Page Klaine hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 15-6. Hagerstown responded with back-to-back scores off steals – the first from freshman Maddie Ward, the second by junior Camryn Bradway.
Kimberly Lichtenberger hit a buzzer-beater basket at the end of the quarter to make the score 19-8.
Five Tigers scored in the second quarter while the tenacious Tiger defense held the Cardinals to a single field goal to expand their lead to 30-10 at halftime. The third quarter was not appreciably better for Seton Catholic. Kenzie Neely scored 5 points in the frame for the Tigers, while Ward added four more. The Cardinals only scored one field goal and one free throw as their deficit grew to 44-13 heading to the fourth quarter.
Hagerstown used 15 players in the fourth quarter, coasting to a 58-17 win. Hallie Rogers scored 13 points and handed out six assists to lead the Tigers in both categories. Kenzie Neeley came off the bench to add 11 points, a career high. The freshman duo of Grace Klein and Ward was near double figures. Klein scored nine points, Ward scored eight, and both pulled down seven rebounds.
Kassidy Oliger also had 7 rebounds and scored seven points. Camryn Bradway scored six points. Cassidy Frame led the Cardinals with six points.
Lady Tiger Head Coach Chris Oliger said his young team is starting to understand what they must do to win games.
“Early in the season we were hurrying our shots and we had too much one-on-one play,” Oliger observed. “We are young, and we have been working on the things we have to do to win. We are starting to work the ball to get good shots. We had several assists tonight. We were unselfish and shared the ball. Our defensive effort was good. Our rebounding effort was good. I am proud of them and I have no doubt that we will continue to improve.”
The Lady Tigers next play in the Edinburgh Tournament on Friday, Dec. 28 at 1:30 p.m. against Southwestern (Shelbyville).
Hagerstown 58, Seton Catholic 17
SETON CATHOLIC (2-12) 8 10 13 17
Klaine 1-7 0-0 4, Lichtenberger 1-2 0-0 2, Becker 0-2 0-2 0, Haager 1-6 0-0 2, Reichley 1-6 1-2 3, Berger 0-2 0-0 0, M. Hannah 0-0 0-2 0, Frame 3-6 0-0 6, E. Hanna 0-2 0-0 0
Totals 7-33 1-6 17
HAGERSTOWN (5-8) 19 10 44 58
Bradway 3-3 0-0 6, Makayla Matanich 0-3 0-0 0, Makynna Matanich 0-0 0-0 0, Rogers 4-12 4-6 13, Neeley 4-7 0-0 11, Ward 4-8 0-0 8, K. Slagle 0-1 2-2 2, M. Slagle 0-0 0-0 09, K. Oliger 3-8 1-2 7, A. Oliger 0-0 0-0 0, Klein 3-5 3-4 9, Farmer 0-1 0-0 0, Doerstler 0-0 0-0 0, Foor 1-1 0-0 2, Cox 0-1 0-0 0
Totals 22-50 10-14 58
Seton Catholic 8 2 3 4 -17
Hagerstown 19 11 14 14 -58
3-point goals – Seton Catholic 1 (Klaine), Hagerstown 4 (Neeley 3, Rogers). Rebounds – Seton Catholic 17 (Klaine 5), Hagerstown 35 (Klein 7, Oliger 7, Slagle 7, Ward 7) Total fouls – Seton Catholic 9, Hagerstown 8. Turnovers – Seton Catholic 31, Hagerstown 10.