SMCC still unbeaten

DANBURY TWP. — St. Mary Central Catholic did almost everything it could to allow Danbury to take control of Thursday's non-league game.But the Lakers just came up short on each chance they had.Tre'Jeen McCarty tipped a game-tying 3-pointer attempt away to preserve a 55-52 win for the unbeaten Panthers, who made just 15-of-35 free throws in the game.Kristen Wehner led SMCC (5-0) with 19 points and 12 rebounds while Rachele Windau had 16 points."Kristen is big every night. She's usually the tallest person on the floor, but she doesn't play like a tall, thin post," SMCC coach John McGuire said. "She gets out there and scraps. She throws her body on the floor and she gets key rebounds. Her and Rachele are a dynamic duo. They work hard in practice, work hard on the floor, and give you everything they have."The Lakers (4-1) certainly had their chances in the final 30 seconds. Robin Skinner drove to the hoop, scored, and was fouled out of a Danbury timeout to get the Lakers within 53-52. She missed the free throw and Danbury fouled Ashley Huntley. She made one for SMCC, but Danbury was called for a traveling violation on the inbounds, giving the ball back to the Panthers.Windau was fouled immediately — but missed both free throws. Danbury appeared to have the rebound, but the whistle was blown for a jump ball, with the possession arrow pointed toward the Panthers.SMCC called timeout and Faith Lamb was fouled. She missed both free throws, but Sarah Redett was called for a travel after grabbing the rebound. Wehner was immediately fouled and made one attempt for a 55-52 lead before McCarty came up with the defensive play to end the game."We seem to be the king of winning ugly," McGuire said. "This seems to be the kind of games our girls thrive in. Our two seniors stepped up. This team is dangerous because they just get after it."SMCC controlled most of the game, with the defense leading the way. Danbury made just 1-of-21 shots to open the game, as the Panthers opened a 17-9 lead. The Lakers bounced back to hit 3-of-4 shots to end the half — but SMCC maintained a 24-18 lead at halftime."We started off slow and had to get it going," Danbury coach Adam Steinbreck said. "We dug ourselves in a hole and battled back a few times. We just couldn't sustain the lead we got late. We'll get better from it."The Panthers started the third quarter on fire. Huntley hit a 3-pointer and Windau scored twice in the first three shots SMCC took. That ballooned the lead to 31-18, but Danbury was undeterred. The Lakers responded with a 15-2 run to tie the game at 33-all. The final eight points were scored by Redett.Wehner scored off an offensive rebound to close the third quarter scoring, but again Danbury pushed forward early in the fourth quarter. The Lakers scored seven straight to open the quarter and a 40-35 lead and it wasn't until Windau made a free throw that SMCC drew even (44-44)."It's two teams going at it and going hard," Steinbreck said. "Give credit to them because they got the job done at the end. They executed and made one more play than we did. We had our chances and our kids battled."The teams exchanged the lead six times in the fourth quarter before a free throw by Wehner, a turnover by Danbury, and a bucket by Windau put the Panthers ahead for good."It feels great to be 5-0 and I couldn't be happier for this group of young ladies," McGuire said. "They may lack in taking care of the ball or making every single free throw, but you know you'll get it back on the defensive end because they have a lot of heart and get after it."Lamb grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds to go with five points. Redett topped the Lakers with 16 points and 11 rebounds."It's a tough game to lose, but obviously if you can learn from it now and win close games down the road, then that's what it's all about," Steinbreck said.Danbury's Robin Skinner tries to swat the ball away from St. Mary Central Catholic's Tre'Jeen McCarty during Thursday's game at Danbury High School.St. Mary Central Catholic's Kristen Wehner shoots the ball over Danbury's Erin Uhinck on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, at Danbury High School.Danbury's Robin Skinner puts up a shot during a game against St. Mary Central Catholic on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, at Danbury High School.Danbury's Sarah Redett looks to shoot as Saint Mary Central Catholic's Kristen Wehner attempts to block during Thursday's game at Danbury High School.