By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Central Wisconsin Catholic Conference rivals Pacelli High School and Wausau Newman both have the same nickname: the Cardinals. But the Pacelli girls basketball team could have been called the Bees or Hornets after Tuesday night's swarming defensive effort.
Pacelli shut down Newman's offense in the second half, holding the Fighting Cardinals to three fourth-quarter points in a 39-30 win. Newman only scored 10 points in the second half as Pacelli rallied from a three-point halftime deficit.
"I think we're very fortunate that we hit our free throws down the stretch, but obviously our defense carried us in the fourth quarter, second half," Pacelli coach Jim Warzinik said.
With Laura McCorkell, Lindsey Radomski, Kristin Mitchell, Kim Schulist and Lyndsey Johnson applying the defensive pressure, possession after possession resulted in a steal, turnover or blocked shot. Newman was unable to use the baseline to get easy baskets, as happened several times in the first two quarters.
"Newman was doing a good job in the first half of making pass-penetration of our seams," Warzinik said of the first half. "We tried to tighten up the wings (in the second half). Our baseline personnel, Kim (Schulist) and Cindy (Lila) really stepped it up in the second half. We definitely had to be more active on the baseline."
While the defense shut down Newman, McCorkell opened the fourth quarter with three straight baskets to give Pacelli a 33-27 lead. Newman didn't score until 2:04 remained in the game when a Pacelli turnover led to a Kelly McAnarney layin.
Pacelli then iced the game at the free throw line, hitting 6-of-9 in the final two minutes. Johnson's two with 1:07 left gave Pacelli a six-point, 35-29 advantage.
"Lyndsey Johnson's free throws were a little bit of the icing. It made us feel, yeah, we have the game in hand," Warzinik said.
Radomski had a big first half for Pacelli, scoring 10 of her game-high 14 points. McCorkell had eight of her 12 in the second half.
"(Lindsey) realizes her role is to score, so she's looking for opportunities. When she's hot, we want her to have the ball," Warzinik said. "Laura doesn't have a terrific outside shot. But get her within five or six feet of the basket, she'll get more than her fair share."
The game marked senior night, for Radomski, McCorkell, Johnson, Lila and Mitchell.
"I think it's a great win for our seniors. These girls certainly have been terrific role models during the season," Warzinik said.