Mustang Girls Power Past Cavaliers 75-63

BY MIKE LONDON
SALISBURY POST

When the East Rowan girls basketball team tried to practice earlier this week, its workout was cut short by a power failure that turned out the lights prematurely.

Wednesday night, when North Rowan invaded East's gym, the lights went off again. This time the Mustangs (4-2) shot them out on their way to a 75-63 win.

East's numbers were impressive - 49 percent from the field, 73 percent from the line. Electrifying efficiency that was simply too much for the Cavaliers (3-2) to contain.

The key was the Mustangs' ability to execute their halfcourt offense. They made 26 field goals, with an amazing 18 of them coming on assisted layups.

"We played four different defenses and none them of them worked," said North coach Gary Atwell.

"Whatever we did, East found the open person. I thought (East point guard) Brooke Misenheimer played the best game I've ever seen her play."

Misenheimer and East's other guard Nicole Loggins combined for 15 assists. Most of them went to center Julie Austin, who scored a career-high 27 points on 13-for-17 shooting. The 6-1 Austin, who now has 986 career points, connected on her first eight shots, tormenting the smaller Cavaliers inside.

"We could backdoor them when they went man-to-man," said Misenheimer, "and when they tried to front Julie, all we had to do was throw it up there to her and it was two points."

The key to the game was tempo, with East playing 2-3 zone to slow speedy North down, and the Cavs constantly trying to force a track meet with relentless defensive pressure.

East's style prevailed, mostly because Misenheimer handled everything the Cavs threw at her. East turned the ball over only 10 times - and just once during the first 11 minutes when it built a working margin that North never erased.

"They wanted a run-and-gun game," said Misenheimer. "But we did a good job of setting up on offense, and our defense made them run their offense. That took them out of the game they wanted."

East coach Gina Talbert was excited about her team's play - especially early.

"That first quarter we played some good basketball," she said. "I think it was our experience (all five East starters are back from last year) that got us through. Even with our short practices this week - between the power failure and wrestling - the girls knew what to do. We had a great, great passing game. That says a lot about this team."

It says a lot about North though, that the Mustangs had to fight almost to the wire to win, even while making half their shots, pounding the boards (Austin and Karen Brown had 11 rebounds each) and limiting turnovers.

The game stayed close because East, like everyone else, had its hands full with North's 5-10 junior Megan Honeycutt, who scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

"Our whole thing defensively was Megan," said Talbert. "We wanted to play zone, make them shoot outside, make someone besides Megan beat us."

Honeycutt didn't get a lot of offensive help (at least until Sharika Cuthbertson went on a 14-point fourth-quarter rampage), but she kept North in the game, even after picking up her fourth foul with seven minutes left.

"It seemed like Megan hit every shot she took, even with us doubling down on her,' said Misenheimer.

Down 53-39 after three quarters, North got as close as 68-60 with 1:16 remaining in the game, but Misenheimer made eight late free throws to keep the Cavs at arm's length.

"We never stopped trying," said Atwell, "but every time we'd make a mini-run it seemed like Loggins would hit a 3-pointer (she made four) or they'd get an easy one inside."

Both coaches agreed that East's sizzling start - the Mustangs led 30-17 before they made their second turnover - was huge.

"We let them jump out," said Atwell. "For some reason, we weren't fired up. I don't know if it was exams or being tired or our win over South Rowan or what, but we weren't as prepared as we have been. As tough as our schedule is, we have to play hard every night. Maybe this game will open our eyes.

"But the other side of that is that East played extremely well."