Girls' B-Ball Team Ends Regular Season With Win
07 Feb 2008

The girls’ basketball team wrapped up its season with a big road win, beating South Adams 44-32 to finish the regular season 7-13, winning four of their last five games.
“We told the girls at the beginning of the year that it was going to be a process,” Manchester coach Mark Underwood said. “We had a team with basically very little varsity experience. The girls understood that, and have never given up. You have to give them credit for that.”
The Lady Squires fell behind early at South Adams, trailing 15-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Two three pointers from Jessica Bedke helped cut the lead to 21-20 at halftime.
The Lady Squires grabbed a 28-27 third quarter lead, outscoring the Lady Starfires 8-6.
The fourth quarter, however, was all Manchester.
Katie Bowers scored seven of her team high 13 points in the fourth, while Becka Guthrie scored four, and Audrey Johnson nailed a three pointer to help Manchester outscore South Adams 16-5, and pull out the 44-32 win.
“It was a one point game after three quarters, but we turned it up a notch in the fourth to secure the win,” Underwood said. “Just like they have done all year, the girls didn’t quit, and played hard until the end.”
Bowers led the team with 13 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals. Laci Welches had eight points, six rebounds, and two steals, Noelle Patrick had seven points, two rebounds, and two assists, Guthrie had six points and three steals, Bedke had six points and three rebounds, Johnson had three points and two rebounds, while Kyla Zile had one point and five rebounds.
The Lady Squires will next face Wabash in the second game of Friday night’s Manchester Sectional. Manchester and Wabash received the bye.
Wabash has beaten Manchester twice this season, 55-28 in the championship game of the Wabash County Tournament, and 54-29 in the regular season.
Can the Lady Squires turn their misfortunes around against Wabash?
“We’re looking forward for the opportunity to play them again,” Underwood said. “We felt that in the first two meetings, we didn’t play to our full potential and ability.”
Coming off four wins in their last five games, the Lady Squires feel they can compete for a sectional title.
“All year, we have always had the goal to be playing our best ball at the end of the year, and we are right now,” Underwood added.
Wabash will be without the services of Jordan Fox, who has been a key component for the Lady Apaches, and suffered a season ending knee injury.
“Wabash is an excellent team, with or without Fox,” Underwood said. “We will need a great effort on our part, mentally and physically, to get the job done. We look forward to the challenge. We know it won’t be easy, but hopefully, we won’t back down.
“The kids have been enthusiastic, and they are working their tails off,” he continued. “They have been listening, learning, and absorbing what it will take to be successful. They are buying into our strategy that we’re going to have. That has really impressed us as a staff.”