Mission State-ment: Athletics win first section title in program history
Published 12:30 am Saturday, March 14, 2015
Lyle-Pacelli’s Bethany Strouf celebrates after coming out late in the Section 1A championship against Fillmore Central Friday night at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
ROCHESTER — The Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball team made program history in the Section 1A title game in Mayo Civic Center Friday.
The Athletics used an early second half run to take control and they never faltered from that point as they knocked off Fillmore Central 47-36 to punch their ticket to the Class A state tournament.
Lyle-Pacelli’s Courtney Walter puts up a running-jumper during the second half of the Section 1A championship against Fillmore Central Friday night at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The LP co-op started in 2000 and it has never sent a girls basketball team to state. Pacelli last sent a girls basketball team to state in 1981 and Lyle never sent a girls basketball team to state.
“It’s monumental not only for our basketball program, but for the co-op,” LP head coach Justin Morris said. “This is a huge step for the two communities and last one to leave town turn the lights off because I think everybody’s going to be at that state tournament Thursday.”
LP (25-3 overall) had its hands full with the Falcons in the first half and FC led 23-21 after it scored on the first possession of the second half. That’s when the Athletics turned up the full court pressure and put together a 13-1 run to go up 34-24.
Courtney Walter, who had 11 points, and three assists, hit three straight free throws in that run to put LP up 26-24 with 14:51 left and Brooke Walter, who had 12 points, four assists and six steals, capped the run with a drive for a hoop to make it 34-24 with 10:39 left in the game.
Sarah Holtz was also a big factor for LP as she tallied 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
FC never got closer than six the rest of the way as LP was able to put it away.
“It’s a long floor and we were holding the press back a little,” Morris said. “We had to pace ourselves a little bit. We felt like if we turned them over we’d go back to it again. We were just trying to feel the momentum out a little bit and when were able to get some easy lay-ups.”
The Athletics came out of the gates a little shaky and Courtney said the atmosphere was nearly larger than life. Before they took the court, the Athletics watched Dover-Eyota edge out Plainview-Elgin-Millville in OT in the Section 1AA title game.
“It was definitely nerve racking,” Courtney said. “We watched the game before this and it was huge and this arena is so loud. It’s kind of intimidating at first when you get on the floor.”
Lyle-Pacelli’s Brooke Walter fends off Fillmore Central’s Tayah Barnes during the first half of the Section 1A championship game at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester Friday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Falcons (18-12 overall) hit four 3-pointers in the first half to keep LP’s defense off-balanced. But in the second half, FC committed 16 of its 27 turnovers and the Athletics took over.
“They were coming out and knocking down their shots and I give credit to them for that,” Brooke said.
LP will open Class A state tournament play Thursday at Mariucci Arena Thursday.
The Athletics are happy to be getting to state for the first time, but Morris hopes his team isn’t finished yet.
“We’ve got to stay hungry and humble. We’ve got to go back to the fundamentals,” Morris said.
FC 21 17 — 36
LP 21 26 — 47
LP scoring: Sarah Holtz, 14; Brooke Walter, 12; Courtney Walter, 11; Madison Truckenmiller, 6; Bethany Strouf, 2; Kendal Truckenmiller, 2; free throws: 73 percent (8-for-11); rebounds: 23 (Sarah Holtz, 7); turnovers: 12
