Man's Kami Anderson (3) goes in for two of her game-high 18 points in the Lady Hillbillies 59-19 win over Van Friday night at the Man Memorial Fieldhouse (Photo by Bill Lusk/WVOW Sports).
Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
MAN Kami Anderson scored 18 points and the Lady Hillbillies held the Lady Bulldogs to one point in the first half as Man defeated Van 59-19 Friday night at the Man Memorial Fieldhouse.
The Lady Hillbillies scored the first 27 points of the game and held the Lady Bulldogs scoreless for 15:22 of the first half and held them without a field goal for over 20 minutes.
Emma Wilcox's free throw with 0:38 remaining before halftime gave the Lady Bulldogs their first points of the contest and her 3-pointer with 3:57 to play in the third quarter was the team's first successful field goal attempt.
Wilcox, who scored 35 of Van's 38 points in a 40-38 loss to Man just two days prior, was held in check for three quarters. Wilcox scored 17 of Van's 19 points with the other two points coming from a pair of fourth quarter free throws from Hailey Tackett.
Van coach Sam Terry credited the Man coaching staff and it's box-and-one defense on Wilcox that frustrated his team the entire night.
"It was rough, we got some young girls and they panicked," Terry said. "If they can't do things without Emma that is what happens and until they get confidence and trust what we are telling them it is going to be like that every time."
Tori Honaker drew the responsibility of guarding Wilcox man-to-man while the four other Lady Hillbillies played a zone defense. Honaker's defense limited Wilcox to one field and seven points through three quarters.
Man coach Brad Copeland was impressed with Honaker's defense on Wilcox but was even more impressed to learn that Honaker did so without fouling.
"I just looked at the book and she done that box-and-one, kept her locked down and didn't even get a foul until right at the end," Copeland said. "Wilcox is a good player, she has got some good skills."
Aside from the difficulties of making shots, the Lady Bulldogs had a more difficult time taking care of the basketball. Van turned the ball over 40 times, which Terry attributes to his team relying so much on Wilcox.
"They don't look for anybody but Emma, and Emma is a great player, but she can't do it all," Terry said. "This is our ninth or 10th game, and they should be comfortable without Emma. The last two games we have done a lot better with what we had and tonight we were just flat."
"Don't know if it was intimidation or what, but they got to get that confidence from somewhere," Terry said. "They have to at least attempt to do what they are supposed to do, and we didn't attempt to do anything that we were supposed to do."
Man led 22-0 after one quarter and led 27-1 at halftime. The Lady Hillbillies scored the final eight points of the third quarter and took a 42-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
Wilcox scored 10 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter and was 9 of 16 from the free throw line.
"I was going to say that Emma is a horse, but she is dog, she will fight you and she don't back down," Terry said. "The other girls have got to step up and help her. She is going to play, she is going to get hers, and she will get to the basket, she hit the 3, she can do whatever. Somebody has to got to step up."
Anderson was one of three Lady Hillbillies to reach double figures. Jenna Baisden and Braylee Thompson finished with 13 and 11, respectively, while Jace Baisden added eight points for Man.
Man made 27 field goals including three 3-pointers, but Copeland said Man should have made a lot more if not for missed layups.
"We were getting the ball down the floor, making good passes and we can't make a daggone layup to safe our life," Copleland said. "I don't know what is up with that, it's just a mental thing."
Van dropped to 0-9 on the season.
"We are young. All of these girls are in their first year except one, and we thought she may do some things, but she is hesitant right now," Terry said. "Until Emma gets some help these are the results you are going to get. They are capable of it, and we have had some spurts here and there of moving the ball then you will see five minutes of panic."
Man improved to 3-7 with the win and is now 2-2 against sectional opponents following back-to-back wins over Van.
"There is really no reason why we shouldn't be able to pick up at least one more win," Copleand said. "I know Tug Valley and Tolsia are both tough teams, they play tough every year, year in and year out they always seem to be good. I am hoping to play them strong next time."
"I tell my girls that it is all about us, we got to worry about how we play, we can't worry about the other team," Copeland said. "We got to start putting things together and I believe with all my heart that if these girls can put some things together and be able to play like I know we can play then we can play with anybody in the section."
Man 59, Van 19
Van (0-9)
Wilcox 3 9-16 17, Tackett 0 2-4 2, Lovejoy 0 0-2 0. Totals: 3 11-22 19.
Man (3-7)
Anderson 9 0-0 18, Thompson 4 0-0 10, Baisden, Je. 6 0-0 13, Baisden, Ja. 4 0-0 8, Honaker 2 1-2 5, McCoy 1 0-0 2, Deel 1 1-2 3. Totals: 27 2-4 59.
Van 0 1 6 12- 19
Man 22 5 15 17- 59
3-Point Field Goals_Van 2 (Wilcox 2), Man 3 (Thompson 2, Baisden, Je.)