The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
TWO FOR THE SHOW
Schaible set school record for triples as Dutch beat Cardinals
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 24, 2008
The Manchester varsity girls' basketball team couldn't have asked for a better start or a more tense finish.
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Either way, the Flying Dutch will take the ending result.
Thanks to a big performance from sophomore Tracy Schaible, the Dutch withstood a fourth quarter rally and held on for a 4-39 victory over the Michigan Center Cardinals in a Cascades Conference game Jan. 18.
Manchester (4-8, 3-5 Cascades) picked up back-to-back wins for the first time this season and defeated the Cardinals for the first time in a while. Second-year Manchester coach Cori Kastel was unclear as to when the Dutch defeated Michigan Center (6-7, 3-5 Cascades) last. According to Manchester Athletic Director Wes Gall, the Dutch defeated the Cardinals in 1999, but couldn't remember for sure if Manchester had another win in the series since then.
"It's been a long time since we last beat Michigan Center, so this is huge for us," Kastel said. "Our whole season has been a challenge, but this shows that we can do it if we bring our A-game. It comes down to confidence."
Schaible enjoyed a record setting night herself. Along with posting a double-double, the sophomore set the Manchester school record for made three-pointers in a game, hitting four from behind the arc.
The Dutch never trailed in the game, but survived some late drama to beat the defending Cascades Conference champions. Leading by 10 with five minutes remaining, Manchester saw the Cardinals fight back to within two by the final 30 seconds. Samantha Pierce and Tonia Pratt scored consecutive baskets midway through the fourth quarter to pull Michigan Center to within six. The Dutch attempted to kill the clock by holding the ball, but Pratt scored a jumper and inside basket off turnovers, making it 41-39 with 31.5 seconds left. Stephanie Ball twice went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line and Schaible also went 1-for-2 at the stripe down the stretch, and Manchester's defense prevent the Cardinals from getting open looks to seal the victory.
"We got more shots at the line, but we need to do a better job in making them," Kastel said. "We needed to ice the game and didn't until the end, but it was still a great win."
The Dutch came flying out of the shoot in the first quarter. After scoring the first five points, Schaible answered a three-pointer by Michigan Center, giving Manchester an 8-3 lead. A jumper by Stephanie Preston was sandwiched between two baskets from Laura Coltre, and the Dutch carried an eight-point lead into the second quarter. A putback by Coltre and another triple by Schaible in the first minute of the frame extended the lead to 19-6.
"We started off strong and Amanda Mutchler was very effective with our press," Kastel said. "Credit our guards too. Tracy took a step in the right direction, and she found her game tonight."
A putback by Ball gave Manchester a 16-point lead, its biggest of the night, with 5:07 left in the half, but the Cardinals answered with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes. Pratt scored off a rebound to cap the run, pulling Michigan Center to within 26-20. The teams exchanged baskets in the final minute of the half, and the Dutch carried a 30-22 lead into the break.
Pratt kept Michigan Center in the game during the third quarter by driving to the basket and drawing multiple fouls against the Dutch. A pair of free throws by Pratt and an inside basket by Chelsea Doyle pulled the Cardinals to within 34-27 early in the quarter.
"Pratt can intimidate with her size, but you can't be intimidated," Kastel said. "When she barrels into the paint, you have to meet her head on."
Schaible's third and fourth three-pointers of the night gave Manchester a 10-point lead both times. Her final missile came with 5:15 remaining and gave the Dutch a 41-31 lead before the Cardinals made their late comeback attempt.
Schaible finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead Manchester. She also recorded three steals. Coltre added 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Amanda Mutchler scored eight points, grabbed six rebounds and forced six steals. Ball had seven points and four rebounds and Stephanie Preston grabbed eight rebounds. Emily Werner had six rebounds, while Julie Fielder added five rebounds. Megan Bossory grabbed four rebounds for the Flying Dutch.
"We didn't collapse, and that's good for our confidence," Kastel said. "I think the team is finally adapting to and believing in the system and themselves."
Pratt scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Cardinals. Kilee Keplinger added nine points, while Doyle had five points. Jamie Wolvin and Sierra Pietroytys each scored four points for Michigan Center.
The Dutch traveled to Ann Arbor Greenhills for a non-conference game Tuesday after the newspaper's deadline. They return to Cascades play today when they host Napoleon.
Manchester will look for payback against the Pirates, who defeated the Dutch 76-48 in a Dec. 13 game at Napoleon.
Dutch at East Jackson
A strong night on the board by Amanda Mutchler sparked the Manchester varsity girls' basketball team to a 56-43 victory over the East Jackson Trojans in a Cascades Conference game Jan. 15.
Trailing by one after the first quarter, the Flying Dutch outscored East Jackson 36-18 over the middle two quarters to pull away.
Mutchler recorded a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Dutch. Stephanie Ball added 10 points and three assists, while Laura Coltre had eight points and three assists. Stephanie Preston had six points, eight rebounds and seven steals and Emily Werner scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds. Julie Fielder had five rebounds for Manchester.
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