WEST LEBANON, Ind. — With both the Seeger and Fountain Central girls basketball team coming into Tuesday’s game with one loss each, the first game between the teams was going to be a competitive matchup.
In a physical battle between both teams, it was the Patriots who took the lead and was able to hold off the Mustangs in a 33-26 victory.
“Both teams dug in and played physical and hard and this is what happens when you have two teams playing hard that know each other,” Seeger head coach Chad Cripe said. “Lots of credit to them and my girls because thy are awesome.”
The 33 points was the second-lowest total of the season for the Patriots and the 26 was the lowest total for the Mustangs. Both teams came in with Seeger scoring mostly in the 60’s and Fountain Central scoring in the 50’s.
“They were tougher than us and they outrebounded us and that’s something we have been doing to other teams so far,” Fountain Central coach Sam Karr said. “We didn’t shoot it at all. We were 0-10 at halftime from 3 and we missed a lot of free-throws. We didn’t score, but you have to overcome that because you are not going to shoot it great all the time and we didn’t do the little things.”
Even with the scoring troubles, the Mustangs (9-2) came close to actually leaving Seeger with a win.
A drive in the fourth quarter got Fountain Central within 28-24 late, but the Patriots were able to stop that run and put on some points to clinch the win.
“They are a great ball club and we knew they were coming,” Cripe said. “It was a matter of time, so we were ready and they are too good not to.”
“We were within a possession or two,” Karr said. “We got some easy baskets but we would miss a wide-open shot, so we couldn’t cash it in. They were better prepared and they played harder than us.”
Seeger’s leading scorer Lorelei Lanie only had 10 points, but Cripe said like many games this season, it was a team effort.
When you score 29 points a night, people are going to look at you,” Cripe said. “She is a good kid and plays her butt off. It was a team effort and everyone played together and we preach that every day. We had huge minutes on the bench with Maria Frasch coming on in the first half and she got us what we needed. When you can share in someone else’s success, then you have a team and we are a squad.”
Kalli Peterson had eight points for Seeger, while Caleigh Purcell and Lyla Badger each had four points.
Bella Bacon had 14 points to lead all scorers for Fountain Central, while Kendyl Nolan had five points.
With a 6-1 record, the Patriots are already more than halfway toward besting the team’s 10-win total from last season.
“It’s the girls playing hard and playing together. That’s all we talk about and it can be anybody’s night. So all credit goes to the girls,” Cripe said. “Fountain Central is fantastic and it is a huge win for us at home, They executed and bought in and came together. We try to get them ready, but out there is all them.”
Karr said he sees the changes that Cripe has brought to the team and said his team will have to be ready for next week’s Bi-County Tournament, where they will face Seeger again.
“We will see them in 10 days and we will lose to them again if we play like this again,” Karr said. “They are tough, they just play hard and that’s what it takes.
“I think coach Cripe is doing a great job and they are playing a different speed. They talk and they all hustle. I might have one or two and he has at least three or four. They are hard to guard and they just play hard.”