Southern Coffey County girls basketball head coach Jeff True had just three words to describe what bogged his team down Tuesday night in their home game versus Madison.
Turnovers, turnovers and turnovers, theres not much more to say.
The potency of the Lady Bulldogs press in the second half did the Lady Titans in 47-42 despite a nine-point halftime lead for Southern Coffey County.
Junior Reed Szambecki had a near-career game, scoring 24 points thanks mostly to a stellar second quarter where she scored 16 of the Lady Titans 18 points.
Despite falling behind 10-2 to start the game, it was Szambeckis dominance down low that sent SCC into the half with a 24-15 lead.
Shes really automatic when theyre able to get the ball to her, True said. Shes really shown that she can carry a big load as long as she stays out foul trouble. Unfortunately, tonight she didnt.
Szambecki picked up her third foul early in the third quarter and had to sit for the duration. Madison saw its opportunity and took it, employing a full-court press and using it with lazy precision.
The Lady Titans lead disappeared early in the fourth quarter. Try as they might, they just couldnt break the Bulldog press. Time and time again, Madison got a steal and took it down the court for easy points.
We ran into a press earlier this year and the same thing happened, True said. We know how to break a press but I think it gets in their heads a little bit after the first couple of turnovers. We have to be able to calm down.
Both teams went back-and-forth until they tied it up at 42 late in the fourth quarter. Southern Coffey County had two opportunities to tie or take the lead with less than 30 seconds but both times they turned it over trying to take the ball up the court.
Senior Haven Harvey joined Szambecki in double-figures, scoring 12 in one of her best performances of the season.
She really hit some big shots, True said. At times shes struggled offensively so this was a good night for her.
Junior Bryli Copeland had four points and sophomore Kyra Ohl had two.
The loss moves the SCC girls to 4-5 overall this season and 1-4 in Lyon County League play.
The Titans will travel to face Lebo on Saturday.
