2004

points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks. Kotreece Bender had 10 points and five rebounds. Rita Birden added eight points, Lenore Gray had seven points, four rebounds, and three steals; Brilney Burks had seven points and three steals, Monique Overstreet had six points, and India Backstrom had five points and six rebounds. "Just to get the good taste back in our mouth after our per– formance the other night was nice," ECCC head coach Brad Hodge said. ''Now we get to stay alive and try to find ·a way to play Satur day. We've got a tough opponent in Weather– ford." ECCC jumped out to the game's biggest lead by scoring the first 10 points over the first four minutes, but the Lady Royals drew even at 22-22 behind 12 points from Jen Streifel. who frequently got behind the Lady Warrior defense for runout layups. Streifel had 16 points by half– time as the Lady Royals carried a 35-32 lead into intermission. Lake Region outrebounded ECCC 25-13 in the first half. ECCC's defense, however, did force the North Dakota team into 20 first half turnovers. "The lead was good because our press was working, but then we quit rotating in the press and didn't get back in transition when we didn't score," Hodge said. "We missed -orne shots and couldn't get in the press as the result. "When we got in our press, we forced 20 turnovers at ha1f– time. Our points off turnovers weren't very good though. We just didn't capitalize on their mistakes and then we allowed them to shoot 55.6 percent (15- of-27) in the first half."

The LaCiy Royals took their biggest lead of the game at 40- 35 on a 3-pointer with 16:25 remaining. The Lady Warriors responded with a 12-0 run to go up 45-40. Chaney had two big plays in the run as she con– verted a pair of three-point plays in a 15-second span to tie the game at 40, then give ECCC a three-point lead. The Lady Warriors never trailed again. "Coach (LaCole) Brooks made the suggestion that we go to our half-court trap, rather than fullcourt, and right off the bat they weren't prepared for that and we go from down five to up three. It was a quick turn– around in three possessions," Hodge said. "And when we missed shots after the 12-minute mark of the second half, we fought and were relentless on the boards. We'd get two or three second opportunities and eventually they had to foul because they were not in position defen– sively." Viverette's three-point play with 9:21 remaining was a prime example as she pulled down two offensive boards before finally putting the ball in the hole and drawing a foul for a 58-52 lead. Lake Region closed to within 60-57 on a 3-pointer with eight minutes left before Birden scored back-to-hack baskets to give ECCC a 64-57 advantage with 4:13 left. Viverette made two free throws 70 seconds later for a nine-point lead and Bender, Viverette, Burks, and Chaney combined to go 8-for-8 at the line over the final 51 seconds. The Lady Warriors made their last 18 free throws and were 24-of-29; for the game.

APPE~

LAKE MESSENGER-------– SCOTI COUNTY TIMES - ------ UNI ON APPEAL--------- WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL _ _ _ _ SPIRIT OF MORTON-------- IMPACT ____________ _

CRAT _______ D___,______

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