The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Rando leads Hanover past Dutch
Senior recovers from cut, sparks 25-3 run to beat Manchester
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 10, 2008
Facing one of its toughest challenges of the season in the first game following the holiday break, the Manchester varsity girls' basketball team couldn't have scripted a better start.
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The second half was a different story, however, as the Hanover-Horton Comets pulled away for a 48-29 victory over the Flying Dutch in a Cascades Conference game Jan. 4.
Manchester (2-7, 1-4 Cascades) hung with the league-leading Comets in the first half and kept Hanover's star Samantha Rando scoreless. However, the senior came to life in the third quarter, hitting a pair of three-pointers to kick off a 25-3 run to help Hanover-Horton (7-1, 5-0 Cascades) pull away.
The loss was frustrating for the Dutch, who had played competitive games against the Cascades contenders (Addison, Napoleon) earlier this season, only to come up short.
"We've played well with good teams, but you can't score four points in a quarter against teams like that," Manchester coach Cori Kastel said. "We play with a lot of heart, but putting one complete game together is something we haven't done."
Rando scored in the first two quarters and took a nasty fall late in the half. She came back strong in the third quarter, canning a three-point basket just over a minute in, giving Hanover a 21-17 lead. She hit another missile on the Comets' next trip down the floor, then baskets by Amber Fausneaucht, Amber Huston and Rando extended the lead to 14 points midway through the frame.
"Samantha is our playmaker and a phenomenal athlete," Hanover-Horton coach Lacey Fausneaucht said.
Laura Coltre answered with a triple, but Hanover closed the quarter with eight straight points. An inside basket by Kendra Cavin and a layup from Hutson early in the fourth staked the Comets to a 43-20 lead.
The teams exchanged baskets down the stretch as both coaches cleared their benches.
"We had a lack of communication defensively and they took the momentum away," Kastel said. "We tend to get timid when we get down, then we force the ball and overcompensate too hard."
Manchester's defense was strong in the first quarter, keeping the ball away from the Comets for long stretches. The Dutch opened the game with the first five points on baskets by Coltre and Tracy Schaible along with a free throw by Amanda Mutchler. An inside basket by Ashley Fausneaucht put the Comets on the board with three minutes left in the quarter, but Coltre answered with a jumper, making it 7-2.
Hanover rallied to tie the game, but Stephanie Preston's inside basket in the final minute gave Manchester a two-point lead entering the second quarter.
The teams exchanged baskets until a play by Tineile Heiler midway through the frame kicked off a 7-0 Hanover run. Consecutive baskets by Cavin gave the Comets an 18-11 lead with just over a minute left in the half, but the Dutch stormed back with five straight points. A layup off a steal by Coltre pulled Manchester to within 18-16 at halftime.
"We played a strong half against the best team in our conference and were right there," Kastel said. "We dominated the boards and knew they would trap. We ran into turnovers in the second half and didn't communicate on offense."
Julie Fielder hit 1-of-2 at the line 40 seconds into the third quarter, making it a one-point game before Rando buried consecutive three-pointers to spark Hanover-Horton's surge.
"We were on vacation and had to get the bugs out," Lacey Fausneaucht said. "Manchester rebounded well, but we were able to get through it and play our game."
Coltre finished the game with nine points and six rebounds to lead Manchester. Schaible added seven points and two rebounds, while Emily Lobbestael came off the bench to score five points. Mutchler had three rebounds and four steals and Stautz grabbed three rebounds and forced two steals. Fielder had eight rebounds and five steals for the Dutch.
Rando scored a game-high 12 points to lead the Comets. Heiler added seven points, while Cavin had six points and six rebounds. Ashley Fausneaucht had six points and three steals and Amber Fausneaucht scored five points and forced three steals. Alyssa Harris had five points and five assists for Hanover-Horton.
The Dutch return to action today when they host the Grass Lake Warriors.
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