By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
The makers of energy replenishing sports products like PowerBar and Gatorade may have an unlikely competitor.
Suffering from flu-like symptoms, Janel McCarville refueled her energy with a Snickers candy bar during halftime of the Stevens Point Area Senior High girls basketball team's opener against La Crosse Logan last Friday. Whether it was the peanuts, chocolate, caramel or guts and determination that helped her, McCarville scored 10 of her game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the Panthers to a 56-50 victory over the Rangers.
"I felt like I was going to pass out (at halftime)," McCarville said. "I had my mom give me a Snickers. Then I was fine."
Following a third quarter lull on offense, SPASH was forced to rally in the fourth quarter. Sara Ogen was the force behind Logan's surge, scoring 15 straight Ranger points in the late third and early fourth quarter to give her team a 44-39 lead.
Jumpers by SPASH's Emily Pliska and Michele Rosicky kept their team within striking distance and then McCarville took over. The junior center scored SPASH's final five points in regulation time, putting back two Panther misses and sinking 2-of-4 free throws. Her three-point basket and foul play with 1:05 left tied the game at 46-46.
SPASH's defense then held Logan scoreless over the last minute, making three crucial stops to send the game into overtime. The Panthers did have several chances on offense but they had two turnovers and two missed shots, including a Steph Karaliunas half-court heave that hit the rim at the buzzer.
"The big thing is some girls hit some jump shots. That got us some confidence," SPASH coach Kraig Terpstra said. "We seemed to be the aggressor from that point on."
In overtime, SPASH scored four straight points to take a 50-46 lead with 2:52 remaining. Following an Ogen free throw, McCarville put back her own miss and the Panthers had a five-point, 52-47 advantage with 2:03 to go.
Logan turned the ball over on its next two possessions before Jenna Erickson sank a pair of free throws to put her team within four points with 1:26 left. SPASH slowed it down on the ensuing possession and Erickson was forced to foul Pliska with 1:05 remaining. She hit one of two from the line and the Panthers sealed the game by hitting 3-of-6 in the closing seconds.
McCarville hopes the victory will set the tone for the rest of the season.
"It sets the tempo for the whole year. We didn't play our greatest but we stuck it out and won," she said.
McCarville had her way in the middle early in the game, scoring 11 of SPASH's first 13 points in the game. She had 18 points at halftime before Logan's zone defense tried to neutralize her in the third quarter.
"She was dominating," Terpstra said. "They made some excellent adjustments to try and keep the ball away from her."
Besides McCarville's 28 points and 15 rebounds, Rosicky scored 10 points and Pliska added nine. Karaliunas had nine steals. Ogen led Logan with 24 points while Erickson and Krystal Check had six.
SPASH opened a 31-20 halftime advantage with a 14-4 spurt to end the second quarter. Rosicky jumpers started and ended the run, which also featured five points from McCarville.
"We had open shots and were breaking the press," Terpstra said.
The lead disappeared in the third quarter, though, when the Panthers were held to two field goals - jumpers from Rosicky and Pliska - and Logan entered the fourth leading 37-35.
"In the second half, they went to a new press, a 2-2-1. We were used to getting quick shots and we had a tough time with that zone," Terpstra said.
Both teams were plagued with turnovers in their opening game. SPASH gave it away more than two dozen times while Logan had its fair share too.
"I expected a little, but not this much. It was my main worry coming in," Terpstra said.