Game 53: Lewistown vs. West Hancock (Girl's Basketball)

Game 53
(1/9/10)
Lewistown vs. West Hancock (Girl's Basketball)
Lady Panther Classic (@ Camp Pt. Central)

This was the matchup that made me choose to broadcast this set of games (in the new gym), over the two games in the other gym. Lewistown came off a big win over Knoxville earlier in the week and has a solid team, while West Hancock continues to have a dominant team, led by Illinois State-bound Marley Hall.

Before tipoff, I went down to talk with Titans coach Ken Schuster and Indians coach Greg Bennett. When giving me his starters, coach Bennett listed off his five, and was looking for another starter to give me. Schuster, commented something to the effect of, you already have five, you're not playing a sixth.

It didn't seem to be like it was going to be very competitive from the onset, with West Hancock jumping out to a 19-6 lead after the first quarter. Marley Hall had three field goals and a pair of free throws in that time frame. Lewistown committed seven turnovers in the first quarter, to West Hancock's four.

The tables turned in the second quarter, with Lewistown coughing up the ball just twice, while forcing 10 Titans turnovers in the span. The Indians cut the deficit to five points (24-19) at halftime.

Lewistown emerged from the locker room with 5:30 left on the halftime clock, while the Titans did not re-enter the playing floor until 0:55, and did not warm up to start the second half.

Not warming up at the break did not slow the Titans down, as they extended their five-point lead to seven points through the third quarter, leading 39-32 heading into the final frame.

West Hancock continued to outscore Lewistown in the last eight minutes (18-8), going on to win 57-40. The Indians only knocked down one field goal in the fourth quarter, going (6-10) from the free throw line.

Marley Hall dominated with 30 points, 12 rebounds. Cassie Yager also hit double-digits with 12 points for the victorious Titans. Lewistown was paced by Rachel Bull with 13 points, while also providing some spark on defense with several steals.

A two-hour break split the sessions, and I had to pack up to head to the other gym for the afternoon broadcasts. I thought a delicious gas station lunch was in order, so I headed back up to Golden to the FS station. Grabbed some good old Andy Capp's White Cheddar Fries, gummy sharks, and a Lemon-Lime Gatorade. I took a stroll around Golden, driving by the Prairie Mills windmill, and checked out the downtown, forgetting their was more business in the small town than I realized. My interest was also picqued by an old school looking building near the downtown. It was the old Immanuel Lutheran School. I have a great interest in historical schools structures and the like, hence my involvement with the Illinois High School Glory Days website as a site author (www.illinoishsglorydays.com).

With about thirty minutes to spare, I drove over to Camp Point. I had never been to Camp Point, and I was on the lookout for an old high school building in the town. Camp Point was also larger than I thought. Thinking it was a town of around 400 or 500, I was surprised to find it had nearly 1,500 in population. Camp Point is also home to the nicest Casey's General Stores I have seen. Believe me, I see about five different Casey's a week, LOL.

The Quest File Notes
Game 53
Date: 1/9/10
Result: West Hancock outlasts Lewistown, 57-40
Miles: 16