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Dunlap, Ill. —
The way Limestone started its game against Dunlap on Dec. 20, it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Eagles.
But the second half opened the opposite way, and the Rockets were barely able to hold on for a 51-40 Mid-Illini Conference victory.
Limestone (7-2, 4-1) hit four 3-pointers in the first quarter — seven in the first half — to lead 33-12 at the break. Dunlap shot 5-of-25 from the field and had hit one 3-pointer in seven attempts in the first half.
But the Eagles (5-6, 2-3) came out flying in the third quarter, scoring the first 13 points of the period and hitting three 3-pointers in that span. Limestone didn’t score until 2:45 left in the third and had only four points in that quarter.
The Rockets’ offense got back on track in the fourth quarter, outscoring Dunlap 14-11.
“It was crazy,” said Limestone coach Kevin Metzger. “We came out and played really well in the first half, both offensively and defensively. When you knock your shots down, everything else looks that much better. And then third quarter, it was just the opposite. We were cold, couldn’t really get in any flow offensively, and now all of a sudden they come at us and it was just completely different.”
Followers of Dunlap might suspect Lexi Hobbs, the team’s lone senior, spearheaded the offensive comeback. But that wouldn’t be completely correct.
Morgan Erickson scored all 10 of her points in the second half and Kristeen Morgan scored eight of her 10 after halftime to help rally the Eagles. Hobbs finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Dunlap coach Pat Garst didn’t say what he told his team at halftime, but he didn’t raise his voice.
“It’s just one of those things — with young kids, you can’t go yell at them,” he said. “That would be the worst thing to do. So we just said we’ve got to forget the first half. We’re going to come out and set a defensive game plan for the second half, and they executed it perfectly. I was really pleased with the way the other kids stepped up. And that’s the nice thing about having young kids — they believe whatever the coach says.
“I give my kids credit for the second half. After the first half, we could have just quit second half and I wasn’t sure what I was going to get. But I couldn’t be more pleased with the way they played.”
Jessica Armour led Limestone with 12 points and Cassidy Jennings and Riley Dunne added 10 each. Dunne and Morgan Schwindenhammer each had nine rebounds.
“We changed tempo in the fourth quarter and that got us going a little bit,” said Metzger. “Overall, we came ready to play. We just have to clean up the dry spells.”
The way Limestone started its game against Dunlap on Dec. 20, it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Eagles.
But the second half opened the opposite way, and the Rockets were barely able to hold on for a 51-40 Mid-Illini Conference victory.
Limestone (7-2, 4-1) hit four 3-pointers in the first quarter — seven in the first half — to lead 33-12 at the break. Dunlap shot 5-of-25 from the field and had hit one 3-pointer in seven attempts in the first half.
But the Eagles (5-6, 2-3) came out flying in the third quarter, scoring the first 13 points of the period and hitting three 3-pointers in that span. Limestone didn’t score until 2:45 left in the third and had only four points in that quarter.
The Rockets’ offense got back on track in the fourth quarter, outscoring Dunlap 14-11.
“It was crazy,” said Limestone coach Kevin Metzger. “We came out and played really well in the first half, both offensively and defensively. When you knock your shots down, everything else looks that much better. And then third quarter, it was just the opposite. We were cold, couldn’t really get in any flow offensively, and now all of a sudden they come at us and it was just completely different.”
Followers of Dunlap might suspect Lexi Hobbs, the team’s lone senior, spearheaded the offensive comeback. But that wouldn’t be completely correct.
Morgan Erickson scored all 10 of her points in the second half and Kristeen Morgan scored eight of her 10 after halftime to help rally the Eagles. Hobbs finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Dunlap coach Pat Garst didn’t say what he told his team at halftime, but he didn’t raise his voice.
“It’s just one of those things — with young kids, you can’t go yell at them,” he said. “That would be the worst thing to do. So we just said we’ve got to forget the first half. We’re going to come out and set a defensive game plan for the second half, and they executed it perfectly. I was really pleased with the way the other kids stepped up. And that’s the nice thing about having young kids — they believe whatever the coach says.
“I give my kids credit for the second half. After the first half, we could have just quit second half and I wasn’t sure what I was going to get. But I couldn’t be more pleased with the way they played.”
Jessica Armour led Limestone with 12 points and Cassidy Jennings and Riley Dunne added 10 each. Dunne and Morgan Schwindenhammer each had nine rebounds.
“We changed tempo in the fourth quarter and that got us going a little bit,” said Metzger. “Overall, we came ready to play. We just have to clean up the dry spells.”
