Indians Girls Basketball Struggling To Find A Groove
by Jamie Brockman
After starting the season strong with a 61-58 win at Centerville, the Oskaloosa Girls Basketball team has since suffered five straight lopsided losses and owns a 1-5 record with an 0-2 start in LHC play.
In the Centerville win, six girls scored, including five in double figures, they limited their turnovers, attacked the Redettes zone defense all night, and it showed with the 61-58 win. Centerville took a 58-57 lead late in the game, but a clutch three-pointer from Macie Krier put the Indians back in front with 30 seconds remaining. The win was secured on a big defensive rebound from Amanda Fay, and she was fouled, She hit one of two free throws, and the Indians were off to a 1-0 start. Amanda Fay was a force with 13 points and ten rebounds, Jillian Jennings scored 12 points, while Krier, Kaylee Johnson, and Mary Nelson each added 10. Since then, the Indians have faced pressure defenses and stiff man to man defenses that have caused problems. The Indians are struggling to control the ball offensively and are averaging just over 30 turnovers per contest. Frequent turnovers have led to many easy, uncontested baskets for the opponents, and so far, the Indians have not found the answer.
Oskaloosa fell to Fairfield on the road 56-17. Amanda Fay led the team with eight points, while Mary Nelson added seven. In their home and conference opener, the Indians were handled by Grinnell 69-48. Despite the final score, Oskaloosa was competitive throughout the game, battling to an 18-18 tie after one quarter. They also matched the Tigers in the third quarter, each scoring 16 points. However, they were outscored 17-6 in the second quarter and 18-8 in the fourth quarter. Mary Nelson had a career-high with 16 points, including 4-7 from three-point range, Jillian Jennings scored 12 points and pulled down nine rebounds, while Amanda Fay added 10 points to go along with seven rebounds.
The Indians then hit the road traveling to play a tough Knoxville team and suffered a 66-24 loss. Trailing 18-11 after one quarter, the significant damage was done in the second quarter when the Panthers outscored the Indians 27-5 to take a 45-16 halftime lead. Nelson again led in scoring with seven points, while Kaylee Johnson and Aubree Blanco each added four points apiece. Addison Carter, Amanda Fay, and Ashlee Smith each added two points.
Monday Oskaloosa played host to a talented North Mahaska team and the Warhawks pressure and in your face defense frustrated the Indians all night long giving North Mahaska a 63-28 win. The intense pressure defense from The Warhawks forced 40 plus Oskaloosa turnovers and limited the Indians to just eight points through the first three quarters, and North Mahaska held a commanding 57-8 lead after the third quarter. Mary Nelson got hot shooting in the fourth quarter draining four three-pointers and a layup, but it was too little too late for the Indians. Nelson led Oskaloosa with 15 points while Kassidi Steel led the Warhawks with 17 points while Emma Tyrrell added 13, and Paige Layman scored 10.
This past Friday, Oskaloosa was dealt a 68-20 loss at DC-G, a team picked to contend for an LHC title. Again, the Indians struggled to control the ball against a tough DC-G defense, while also committing several unforced turnovers and mental errors. The Fillies raced out to a 20-4 lead after one quarter and extended that to a 43-7 halftime lead, then outscored the Indians 25-13 in the second half for the big win. Defensively, Oskaloosa had no answer for DC-G’s Jordan Cunningham, who hit layup after layup on her way to 24 points. Amanda Fay led Oskaloosa with eight points; Mary Nelson added six, Jillian Jennings and Addison Carter each scored three points.
The Indians are 1-5 overall and 0-2 in LHC play and will finish the first portion of their season this week with two winnable games against struggling teams; however, they must cut down their turnovers and find ways to score. Oskaloosa heads to Newton for a conference game Friday night then returns home to host Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont, a team they beat a year ago, at 5 pm Saturday.
