Up and Down Week for Osky Girls
Oskaloosa Indians
by Matt Saville
Senior night usually brings out the best in teams, as they get even more fired up, knowing it very well could be the senior’s last home game.
The lady Indians came out Tuesday night with that type of mentality, hosting a very good Norwalk team. The Indians gave the Warriors all they could handle before falling 51-41, in a game that was much closer than the score indicated.
For three lady Indians it was the last time they would step onto the court. The crowd acknowledged senior players Taylor Richardson, Aleda Renter and Asia Laudermilch, along with senior trainer Nicole Redlich.
With a large crowd on hand for senior night, the gym was loud and the band was rocking. The Indians jumped out on a Richardson three point attempt. Sophomore Alexis Westercamp grabbed the rebound, hit the lay-up and drew the foul, putting Oskaloosa up 3-0. That was where, it was very clear, Norwalk had one thought, try to pound the ball inside to their post players. Their game plan was working, as Norwalk went up 6-3.
Westercamp went strong to the hole and hit the layup, as Osky was down 10-5. Westercamp then sandwiched in a free-throw and Laudermilch hit a baseline jumper, ending the quarter with Norwalk leading 13-8.
For the most part, it was clear Oskaloosa was taking better care of the basketball than they had for most of the season. The Indians were battling on the boards against the much taller Warriors.
Norwalk worked inside out and drained a 3, putting Norwalk up 16-8. Richardson and Westercamp were trying to keep the Indians in the game, but the Indians went cold from the field. Westercamp hit a runner down the lane, nailing two more free throws. Richardson got to the foul line, making one of two. Norwalk hit what seemed a lucky bank three pointer, stretching their lead to 26-13.
Laudermilch hit a jumper, but the Indians found themselves in a 32-18 hole at the half.
Oskaloosa came out in the second half looking to be more aggressive. Westercamp and Laudermilch hit buckets, but the Warriors somehow always found a way to answer any run the Indians had for them. The Lady Indians trailed 37-25 after a put back by sophomore Paige Howard. Junior Nicole Strasser received a beautiful pass from Richardson and hit the layup. The Indians trailed 41-29 after three quarters.
Westercamp hit another tough shot to start the fourth quarter and Howard drained a long three, but the lady Indians couldn’t get closer than 8. They ended up falling to the Warriors 51-41, in one of the best played games by the Indians this season.
Oskaloosa was led by Westercamp with 20 pts., Laudermilch with 8 pts., Howard 5 pts. and Richardson and Strasser with 4 pts. each.
Friday saw the lady Indians travel to Pella for a Little Hawkeye Conference game. It did not play out how the Indians imagined, as they went down in a lopsided affair 68-31.
Osky is now 3-18 on the season and will get ready for first round action as they travel to Fairfield on Wednesday. Good luck to the lady Indians.
