Charleroi hands Lady Mikes 69-41 loss
CARMICHAELS — Charleroi took one half to get into high gear, but once it did, the Lady Cougars left Carmichaels in the dust.
Kaitlyn Riley scored 11 of her game-high 28 points in the third period when Charleroi outscored the Lady Mikes, 26-12, to take control of what would become a 69-41 Section 4-AA girls basketball victory on Monday night.
The win keeps the Lady Cougars (13-5, 8-1) tied with Washington for first place. The Lady Prexies visit Charleroi on Thursday.
“We’re aware of what’s going on in the section,” Charleroi coach Kevin Lee said. “It’s going to be a dogfight to the end.”
Carmichaels lost to Charleroi in two earlier games this season, but put up a better fight in the third meeting.
Kristina Aeschbacher and Natalie McNett both scored off steals to give Carmichaels a quick 4-0 lead and force Charleroi coach Kevin Lee into a quick time out.
The Lady Cougars’ trapping defense helped them turn the tide and they took the lead for good when a basket by Maria Claybaugh made it 7-6.
Charleroi led 13-9 after the first period and gradually went out to a 26-17 halftime lead as the gritty Lady Mikes hung tough.
The Lady Cougars exploded at the beginning of the third period, though. A 16-2 run made it 42-19 and the visitors cruised home from there.
“We played well in the first half,” Carmichaels coach Dan Happe said. “I was very proud of how we came out. We started strong. Some of our mistakes are self-inflicted though. That’s what we’ve been working on all season is to try to limit that. Every time we’ve played them that’s what’s happened. We’ve had a four-minute letdown and that’s the difference.”
Lee could feel his team wasn’t quite ready as the game began.
“We were a little sluggish getting off the bus, to say the least,” Lee said. “We just couldn’t get any rythym in the first half. I think we corrected that in the second half. I think the girls loosened up a little bit and got into our sets. Our press was much more effective in the second half.
“It’s tough to play in away gyms. You have to be mentally ready.”
Claybaugh scored 18 points for the Lady Cougars and Kyra Watkins, the team’s lone senior starter, added 12 points.
“She’s done a fantastic job for us this year,” Lee said of Watkins. “She hadn’t played basketball since the eighth grade. She’s a tremendous soccer player. She decided to come out for our team and she’s given us a tremendous boost and shown us good leadership.”
Adrianna Gottheld chipped in with nine points for Charleroi.
Aeschbacher, a 5-foot-10 sophomore center, played a strong all-around game for Carmichaels with 16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.
“She’s playing very well,” Happe said. “She’s tough down there. With her size and her ability and her instinct to block shots. She’s really playing well for us the last few games.”
Kaitlyn Wilson had seven points with one 3-pointer for the Lady Mikes, and McNett chipped in with six points.
“Carmichaels is a young team. They play hard,” Lee said. “They’ve gotten better as the season has gone along.”