Game 34: Moline vs. Peoria Richwoods (Girl's Basketball)

Game 34
(12/22/09)
Moline vs. Peoria Richwoods (Girl's Basketball)
Sterling Shootout

With a stop over at the parents house in Annawan, I stayed up late updating the IHSSN Scoreboard, then an early wake-up call for coffee and breakfast. I planned to take off around 9:00 a.m. as the northern part of the state received a few inches of snow, plus the security detail that would be held at Sterling High School.

I let Garmin guide me to the Sterling Fieldhouse. All in all it did good, until arriving in Sterling. First, it tried to send me into the parking lot of a grocery store, then sent me on a wild goose chase, trying to ship me down a one-way street...the wrong way. I had to be a renegade and go my own way, which I was successful.

Several roads around the school were closed with extreme security detail, since the public hearing for the Thomson Correctional Center, housing the Guantanamo Bay prisoners is being held in the high school's auditorium. One parking lot, guarded by officers, was held for basketball fans only. There was a large lighted road sign pointing shootout fans to the right gym door (only one was open). At the gate, metal detectors and bag searches were being conducted. As my bags were checked, I joked that it was a pretty hectic day. One of the Illinois State Police officers looked at me, and said, "it's only begun". I asked how many officers in total were on the premises, but that could not be answered, only "a lot" was given.

I made it through security check, and took in the Hononegah/Sterling game, which tipped off at 10 a.m. I found my broadcast location at the field house and got set up. Pretty cold in the gym. Everything appeared to work....until about 10 minutes before air time of this game. My Behringer mixer board shorted, and was not showing power. This would make for a very frustrating day if I would be able to broadcast. I scraped and scraped, and went to the car to gather the radio station equipment, trying to piece together a set up that would broadcast through my computer. I found the right connecctions, and fortunately was able to go on the air at the right time.

Richwoods coach Todd Hursey came up and gave me his starters, as well as Moline statistician Dick McKinnon. McKinnon told me that two of Moline's prominent players would be out, Brittany Bush with a back injury suffered on Saturday, and Erika Leader with a stress fracture in her hand, suffered in practice on Monday. Moline was down to eight players.

The Knights jumped out to a 9-8 first quarter lead, forcing six Moline turnovers in the first quarter. It was all Moline, though, in the second quarter, outscoring Richwoods 18-5, and took a 26-14 lead at halftime. Emily Kauzlarich had the hot hand for the Maroons with 11 first half points, knocking down three, three-pointers in the first two quarters.

Richwoods battled back in the second half, outscoring Moline 8-6, but trailed 32-22 entering the final quarter. Moline would hold on to preserve the 44-35 win. During the second half, a brief delay was held as a Richwoods (I believe) fan was escorted out. The official made the motion to throw him out, and he objected at first, before Sterling Athletic Director Nathan DeLany escorted the fan out of the gym.

Kauzlarich finished with a game-high 19 points, while the Maroons also got 12 points from Marquisha Harris. Richwoods was led by Mariah Smith's 14 points.

The Quest File Notes
Game 34
Date: 12/22/09
Result: Moline holds off Richwoods 44-35
Miles: 44