Dixie Heights girls basketball coach Joel Steczynski admitted coaches never really know how players will handle things like Senior Night.
The Dixie Heights girls quickly gave Steczynski and his staff little to worry about, scoring 21 straight points in the first quarter and never looking back in a convincing 79-37 rivalry win over Scott.
“We were able to be very experienced about how we approach the game,” Steczynski said. “They had their moments, did their announcements, celebrated, then they went to work. I think that just goes to show the chemistry they’ve built throughout the season and how much they care for and play for each other. It was a really fun night for a seniors and a really fun night for the entire team.”
Things started on defense as both teams played hard-nosed man-to-man defense mixed in with some zone presses. Dixie Heights turned the ball over just eight times compared to 18 for Scott. Dixie created some turnovers forcing Scott to the sidelines then trapping.
“It’s too late once you get up the sideline,” Scott head coach Eric Pouncy said. “We’re telling them to come back to the ball and nobody comes back so it’s going to be a turnover. It’s little things. We’ve been trying to stay positive. These games are what’s getting us ready for Brossart in two weeks (in the 37th District Tournament).”
That led to a number of transition opportunities for the Colonels, who shot 55% for the game. Junior Catherine Buddenberg followed up her 27-point performance at Campbell County on Tuesday with another big game with 24 points to go with seven steals and six assists.
“When we play hard on defense, it leads to all of us rotating and eventually a steal will happen or a fumble because we always say we want the opponents to feel our pressure because we want them to be uncomfortable,” Buddenberg said. “When they feel uncomfortable, they make mistakes. As mistakes happen, it leads into offense and it gets us going. When we flow on defense, we flow on offense.”
Buddenberg and Bella Crawford gave Scott fits with their abilities to score at all three levels of 3-point shots, mid-range jumpers and near the rim. Buddenberg made four 3-pointers and Crawford hit two on her way to 14 points.
The duo also played a big role helping Dixie win the rebounding battle, 32-25. Both recorded six rebounds each and Abby Thelen had five.
The Colonels used their size advantage in the paint to build a 21-4 lead with their two senior posts. Thelen scored 15 points including 10 in the first half and Avery Moore scored 10.
“It was really nice. Obviously, our outside shooters work hard to give us the opportunity to score in the post,” Thelen said. “So it’s really good to have all that team chemistry to where we can score outside and inside too. You just have to have confidence to go up strong and do what you have to do. I just try to do that and believe I can do it.”
Dixie’s third senior Jalynn Brooks scored her five points in the third quarter, including a three-point play. Brooks also continued to distribute the ball well with eight assists.
The Colonels kept the pressure up scoring 13 straight to start the second quarter. They built the lead to 30 at 36-6 in the middle of the second quarter after a Bailey McQuinlin offensive putback.
Scott did build some momentum in the final four minutes of the second quarter outscoring Dixie, 11-2. Kaia Peterson finished it off with an offensive putback trimming the Dixie lead to 36-15 at halftime.
The Eagles managed to trim the lead to 20 at 41-21 with 6:50 left after a Kourtney Peterson score, but the Eagles came no closer. Dixie forced a running clock in the fourth quarter.
“A lot of it was just the effort,” Pouncy said. “We’ve been stressing all year that we have to start better. We can’t allow teams to get a lead or we get a lead then relax. When Dixie shoots the ball like that with the defense and energy, it’s going to be hard to beat them.”
Scott had plenty of nice looks at the basket, but only Nakiah Mejia hit double figures with 11 points. Kaia Peterson followed with eight.
Dixie Heights (15-11) travels to Pendleton County on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Scott (16-11) travels to South Oldham on Friday for a 7 p.m. game.
COLONELS 79, EAGLES 37
SCOTT — 4-11-13-9 — 37
DIXIE HEIGHTS — 21-15-24-19 — 79
Scoring
Scott (37) — Mejia 11, Kaia Peterson 8, Patterson 5, Price 4, Spencer 3, Richmond 2, Sanders 2, Kourtney Peterson 2
Dixie Heights (79) — Buddenberg 24, Thelen 15, Crawford 14, Moore 10, McQuinlin 6, Brooks 5, Puitz 3, Gibson 2
Game Stats
3-Pointers: Scott 3, Dixie Heights 7
Free Throws: Scott 2/6, Dixie Heights 4/8
Rebounds: Scott 15, Dixie Heights 32
Turnovers: Scott 18, Dixie Heights 8
Fouls: Scott 8, Dixie Heights 11
Records: Scott 16-11, Dixie Heights 15-11