Kittens find intensity, roll 55-35

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February 2, 2010

By MARK MAYNARD / The Independent The Daily Independent Tue Feb 02, 2010, 06:25 AM EST

ASHLAND — An afternoon team meeting may have put some fire back in the belly of the Ashland Kittens.

“I think it definitely helped,” said senior point guard Chelsea Dietrich. “We played with a lot more intensity.”

Led by a determined Dietrich, the Kittens rolled out to a big halftime lead and defeated Raceland 55-35 Monday night at Anderson gym.

Dietrich and fellow co-captains Katelyn Connor, Amy Hanners and Paige Leaver led a defense that clamped down on the Rams, who made only 3-of-24 shots in the first half and trailed 29-11.

Connor finished with 22 points and nine rebounds while Dietrich and Hanners scored 11 apiece. Dietrich also spearheaded the defensive effort with four steals and she added seven assists and four rebounds in a stuffed stat sheet.

“Dietrich is their key,” said Raceland coach Bob Trimble. “We couldn’t keep her out of the lane. They’ve got the two main ingredients — a point guard and post player — to be very good.”

Kitten coach Bill Bradley saw team defense as the key to victory.

“Our defense stuck out in the first half,” he said. “We did a good job on their three stars. We contested everything.”

The team meeting may have hit home, too, Bradley said.

“We had a tough loss against (Huntington) St. Joe the other night so we had a meeting with our seniors,” he said. “The energy and enthusiasm was really good tonight. It was a marked change from the other night.”

Dietrich said the improved played hinged on “attitude and intensity. He told us you have to show you want it.”

The aggressiveness was evident early as the Kittens sped out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter. The Lady Rams made only 1-of-13 attempts from the field.

“We got some good looks,” Trimble said. “We missed eight or 10 two-foot shots. We make three or four of those and it’s a lot closer game (at the half).”

There was no letup in the second half for the Kittens as Connor scored 14 of her 22 points. She ran the floor with Dietrich and Leaver feeding her for easy layups.

“Chelsea and Katelyn run the floor well,” Bradley said.

Hanners did a strong job rebounding in the second half, finishing with seven. Mykal Farris had eight rebounds despite being in foul trouble most of the second half.

Raceland finished 11-of-51 from the floor and was soundly outrebounded by the taller Kittens.

“Ashland’s really good,” Trimble said. “They’re bigger and faster than us at every position, well-coached and have experience playing in the postseason, reaching the finals and semifinals the last two years.

“I was proud of the way our girls fought.”

Kasey Lewis had 16 points and six rebounds for the Lady Rams (11-9).

Ashland, which improved to 13-4, led 43-15 late in the third quarter.

“We’re getting there,” Dietrich said. “We’ve lost four close ones we shouldn’t have lost. But we’ll be there when it counts.”

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.

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Kittens find intensity, roll 55-35

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