Lady Herder bench better than ever

By SCOTT BORKGREN
Reporter/Photographer

If only it weren’t for free throws.

The Lady Herders lost to Torrington (8-6, 4-3) and beat Wright (3-13, 1-4) over the weekend, making them 10-6 overall and 4-3 in the conference. Take away free throws for both teams this season, and Glenrock record would be 12-4 and 5-2 in conference.

Glenrock committed 23 fouls to Torrington’s 11. Torrington went 26- for-34 (76 percent) from the line and Glenrock was 10-for-15 (67 percent). That 16 point differential was more than the difference in the game.

“We have got to move our feet and quit reaching,” coach Tony Lehner said. “We can’t put these people on the stripe all the time.”

Earlier in the season, the Lady Herders lost a squeaker to Burns, 45-43. In that game, Burns made nine more free throws. Glenrock has shot more free throws than their opponent in only three of their 16 games. To date, Glenrock is averaging four more fouls per game and 6.6 fewer free-throw attempts than opponents.

Torrington 66 Glenrock 55

“I wasn’t very pleased with our effort on Friday,” Lehner said. “We turned the ball over a ton and dug ourselves a big hole.” Glenrock committed 27 turnovers in the game, 12 of which were Torrington steals.

Shelby Stewart had another big game against the Lady Blazers, scoring 25 points and pulling down eight rebounds. This was just one game after collecting 26 points and 10 rebounds against Newcastle. Shaynna Hoyt also played well with 12 points and five rebounds.

Glenrock outplayed Torrington in most areas. They out-rebounded them 22-20, had more blocks, more threes and a better shooting percentage . . . but it wasn’t enough to overcome shooting 19 fewer free throws.

Glenrock 58 Wright 39

The Lady Herders freely sent the Lady Panthers to the foul line, but that was the only place Wright went freely.

The Lady Herders committed 11 more fouls and allowed Wright 15 more free-throw attempts, but they dominated every other area of the game by so much, they led from start to finish.

Glenrock had 15 more rebounds, eight more steals, 9 fewer turnovers and shot 15 percent better from field.

The Lady Herders have averaged 8.5 three-point attempts per game this season. Stewart hoisted two attempts against Wright, making one, they were Glenrock’s only attempts in the game as Wright was incapable of keeping Glenrock out of the paint.

Stewart finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four steals. Hoyt led the team in rebounds with eight. She also had six points and four assists. Shayla Wickett gave the team a great boost off the bench, Lehner said. She had eight points, three rebounds and two steals. Lexie Blackburn performed well at the point guard spot, finishing with eight points, five rebounds and three assists and Taylor Kline rounded out the team effort with eight points.

“I think the team is getting a little more confidence in feeling like they can score,” Lehner said. Glenrock is currently fourth in the conference and a half game behind rival Douglas.

Coming up

The Lady Herders host Thermopolis (6-10, 2-6) Feb. 6. This marks the second half of the conference schedule as this will be the second time Glenrock will face Thermopolis. Glenrock won the first meeting 56-39, but Thermopolis is much improved since then, beating Torrington 49-48 Jan. 15.

Lady Herders Basketball

Glenrock 58, Wright 39

Player        Pts  3pt  Reb  Ast  Stl  Blk

Kline           8     0     1      1      1    0
Blackburn    8     0     5      0      3    0
Briggs          0     0     3      2      1    0
Caves          4     0     2      0      1    0
Dona           5     0     4      1      0    1
Hoyt            6     0     8      4      1    0
Oakes         4     0     2      2       2    0
Stewart      15    1     7      2       4    0
Wickett      8      0     3      1       2    0
Downs       0      0     4      2       0     1

Torrington 66, Glenrock 55

Player        Pts  3pt  Reb  Ast  Stl  Blk

Kline          3     0     1     1     0     0
Blackburn   7    0      0     2     1     0
Dona          5    0      2     1     1     0
Hoyt          12   2      5     1     1     1
Oakes        3     1     4     0     1     0
Stewart      25   2     8     3     0     1
Downs       0     0     2     2     1     2

This is part of the February 4, 2010 online edition of The Glenrock Independent.

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