Hocking leads CCHS girls in pair of wins

By Bud Milroy

Sports correspondent

Don’t look now, but the Catholic Central High School girls basketball team may be pulling it together.

The Lady ’Toppers went on the road Saturday to pick up a 57-56 win over The Prairie School and then beat Kenosha Christian Life at home Tuesday 59-49.

“Our defense has really started to come around,” said CCHS coach Jeff Behrens. “We’ve had some real strong efforts defensively since the break.”

In the win Saturday, the Lady ’Toppers used a variety of defenses against The Prairie School. The matchup zone was particularly effective as CCHS held Prairie standout Gabbi Ortiz scoreless in the first half.

“We did an excellent job of pressuring her and communicating with each other as she moved across the floor,” Behrens said.

Leading by three at the half, CCHS managed to hold the advantage in spite of Ortiz breaking loose for seven points in the third.

In the fourth, Prairie erased the lead quickly with a three from Abby Fiegel, and then took the lead with a pair of baskets by Ortiz. The Hawks led by five with two minutes left before CCHS called a timeout and switched to a man-to-man defense.

Allie Hocking drained her fifth 3-pointer of the night to put CCHS up 57-56, and Prairie missed free throws in the closing seconds.

Hocking led the Lady ’Toppers with 20 points.

In the win over Christian Life Tuesday, the Lady ’Toppers again got off to a strong start behind solid defense and balanced offense. Ali Wiemer opened the scoring for CCHS and Maggie Smith added a pair of free throws.

CCHS’s matchup zone made it difficult for KCL to get any opportunities inside, but the Eagles were red hot from long range.

“I thought we did a real nice job defensively in the first half, especially the first quarter, but they hit nearly every shot they took and all from beyond the arc,” Behrens said.

CCHS led 14-9 after the opening quarter, but a 12-0 run to open the second quarter put the Lady ’Toppers in firm control. Megan Wadsworth scored on a putback, and Hocking drove to the basket, drew a foul and got the three-point play.

Hocking then drained a three and CCHS was in control.

KCL pulled within five late but could not get any closer.

Limited to just seven players due to injuries and illness, all seven scored for the Lady ’Toppers. Hocking led the team with 14 points, Wadsworth added 12 and Kelly Gould and Kelsey Robers posted 10 each.