For the Daily Journal
FAIRLAND
With two starters, including junior center Mackenzie Blazek, on the bench saddled with foul problems, senior guard Sidney Crowe had to take charge for the Whiteland girls basketball team Tuesday night.
“As a senior, I’ve learned how to step up and get everyone else under control,” Crowe said. “Then we just have to take good shots, and the bench being all pumped up and getting us going on defense.”
That helped the Warriors trail at Triton Central by just three points (21-18) at halftime. Whiteland grabbed control after the break, outscoring Class 2A No. 3 Triton Central 21-6 in the third quarter en route to a 56-39 road victory.
It was Triton Central’s first loss in nine games, while Whiteland improved to 4-4.
“I thought our bench did a heck of a job in the first half, keeping us around by making plays on defense especially,” Warriors coach Kyle Shipp said. “We had production everywhere in the first half from people that normally don’t get minutes in those key spots. Our core group did a great job in the third quarter asserting themselves.
“Sidney was a great senior leader for us by making those plays when we didn’t have many people to help her out. Then down the stretch she was knocking in those free throws and taking care of business.”
Crowe led the Warriors with 16 points, hitting 12 of 13 free throws. She hit 8 of 9 foul shots in the fourth quarter.
“At the beginning of the year when the game got close I felt I hid from the ball,” Crowe said. “This game I wasn’t going to do that. I just had confidence at the line because that’s all we do is shoot free throws in practice to make sure we hit them.”
Blazek, who left with two fouls in the first quarter, returned in the second half to score all 10 of her points. The 6-foot-2 Blazek, who was often double-teamed offensively, also had 13 rebounds.
“We were able to get her going in the third quarter, and that carried over to the fourth quarter,” Shipp said. “Her passing ability when they were doubling her was tremendous. I thought we executed pretty well.”
Warriors sophomore guard Megan Harlow, who also sat quite a bit of the first half with two fouls, scored eight points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Sophomore guard Madelyn Napier scored 11 off the bench, including three 3-pointers in the first half.
The Tigers, who had no players in double figures, had three girls with eight points each.
