GIRLS BASKETBALL: THOU SHALL NOT PASS

By BRANDON HURLEY

SPORTS EDITOR 

sports@beeherald.com

Jefferson – The best offense is often a great defense. 

The Greene County girls’ basketball team put that notion into action Friday, Dec. 9 and then some as their stout defense held Saydel to just seven first half points and 23 for the game, guiding the Rams’ to a 26 point win. 

Senior Kenna Marquardt led the way with 12 points and five rebounds while Hannah Promes added 11 points on five-of-seven shooting. 

The victory secured Greene County (2-5) their first winning-streak since 2015 thanks to a 49-23 romp over visiting Saydel.

The Ram defense forced the Eagles into tough shots from the opening tip. The Eagles didn’t score their first field goal until the two minute mark of the second quarter and went the first seven minutes of the game without scoring a single point. 

“I’ve always said that we are pretty strong defensive team and we take pride in that,” Greene County head coach Dean Lyons said. “Our goal was to hold (Saydel) to no points in the first quarter and we came really close. 

Defense keeps us in the game and it got us going tonight.”

But, even the Greene County offense struggled to find points in the opening stages of the game, as the Rams scored their first bucket at the five minute mark of the first quarter thanks to a Marquardt free throw. Several careless turnovers caused the game to remain stagnant while Saydel continued to rack up fouls. 

The Eagles committed 10 fouls in the first quarter as Greene County drained eight-of-12 free throw attempts, giving them a comfortable advantage despite their early inefficiencies from the floor  

“Our free throws over the last two games, as the matter of fact, have been strong,” Lyons said. “We are making our free throws and that’s a very positive thing. It’s giving us an opportunity to score some points.”

Promes’ buzzer-beating three gave the Rams a 13-2 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Promes (11 points) was one of three Greene County girls in double figures as senior Taylor Wessling added 10 points of her own including five-of-six from the free throw line. The senior also contributed three assists and two steals while Laurin Lyons snared a game-high seven rebounds to pad her total of five assists. 

“The key to the win is we got everybody involved (Friday), offensively and defensively,” Lyons said. “I also thought we passed the ball extremely well. We found the open girls and we were unselfish. 

The Rams held a 22-7 halftime advantage when they blew the game open early in the third. Greene County connected on several shots in a row as they sprinted out to an 8-4 run then stretching it out to a 14-6 over the course of the third for a 36-13 lead. The shots were falling early and often for the Rams. 

“We were taking good shots,” Lyons said. “I think we took one or two bad shots, if that. The shots that we were missing earlier in the year we were making (Friday) and we shot with confidence.”

The 49 points Friday were Greene County’s highest point total of the season, 18 above their season average. The Rams made 18 baskets and sank 11 free throws in all. 

Coach Lyons was thrilled with the steps that were taken in Friday’s win. 

“You could see it in their eyes that the confidence is coming,” coach Lyons said. “I think we can continue to do the same thing from now on.” 

After starting the season 0-5, the Rams strung together back-to-back victories (SEV and Saydel). The success has been in large part due to Greene County being at full strength. Both starters Lyons and Onica Delp had sat out games over the past few weeks. 

“Everybody counted us out early on and I think the girls want to prove something to people,” coach Lyons said. “That confidence is just growing.” 

The Rams are at home again Tuesday as they host South Hamilton (0-5). The Hawks are still in search of their first win and average just 25 points per game, shooting the ball at a mere 28 percent clip.