Whiteland’s bench reacts after a 3-point basket during Tuesday’s game at Mt. Vernon.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
FORTVILLE
Mt. Vernon answered hot-shooting Whiteland’s strong start with stronger defense.
After Whiteland hit 4 of 6 first-quarter 3-pointers, led by as much as seven points and took a 16-11 lead into the second, Mt. Vernon decided the Warriors weren’t going to hit shots they were unable to take.
The host Marauders helped force 29 turnovers, 19 in the middle quarters, and defeated the Warriors 53-34 in the season opener for both teams Tuesday.
“Mt. Vernon runs a halfcourt 1-2-2 matchup zone and they do a really good job of it,” Whiteland head coach Kellie Burgeson said. “We just couldn’t handle the pressure in the halfcourt; way too many turnovers to be successful offensively.”
To compound troubles for the Warriors, Whiteland played without starter Addison Emberton. Two more players, starter Gwen Higdon and the first player off the bench, Carly VonDielingen, the niece of Mt. Vernon head coach Julie Shelton, were injured in the second quarter and did not return.
“We brought (5-foot-10 senior) Easton Wampler up to pressure,” Shelton said of her team’s defensive turnaround. “I thought that helped when Easton was giving them problems. We had her playing flat and low and brought her up to lane passes and try to pressure more.
“They got two people hurt; I’d say that was the biggest difference,” Shelton added. “And Reagan Britt came in to play the second half. She had to sit the first half. The combination of them losing two kids and us getting a starter back helped.”
Mt. Vernon outscored Whiteland 18-5 in the third quarter to break a halftime tie and take control of the game.
The Marauders opened the second half on a 10-0 run. A bucket from Ellery Minch, a 3-pointer from Wampler and a basket from Kanyonrae Kenny all happened in the first 90 seconds.
Minch added three more points from the free throw line for the Marauders’ first double-digit lead of the night.
Whiteland didn’t break its scoring drought until Sophia Dyer scored with 3:58 left in the third.
Whiteland jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead. Higdon and Samantha Roadruck each hit early treys. The Warriors were 4 of 6 from 3-point range in the opening period and led by as much as seven points.
Roadruck led Whiteland with 12 points, eight of which came in the first quarter; Dyer had seven. Higdon hit a pair of first-quarter 3s before leaving the game.
“We had some girls step up. They were kind of thrown into the fire. I am really happy with the effort from some of those kids that don’t have a lot of varsity experience,” Burgeson said. “Overall, we just have to get better, handle the basketball, but Mt. Vernon is a really good team.”
Mt. Vernon had three players score in double figures. Minch led with 18. Wampler and Kenny had 14 and 11, respectively.
Whiteland welcomes Greenfield-Central on Saturday.
