Free throws sink Eagles’ tournament hopes
Free throws sink Eagles’ tournament hopes
By Jerry W. Kram
The New Town Lady Eagles outscored every opponent they faced from the floor in the 2013 North Dakota State Class B Girls Basketball Tournament. But that wasn’t enough to overcome a lopsided margin in fouls and free throws that favored their opponents in two of the three games held at the Fargodome last week.
Even with the disadvantage, New Town was able to score its first victory at the state tournament after five consecutive defeats, downing the Grant County Coyotes 72-58 to take seventh place in the tournament.
The Lady Eagles opponents scored 61 points from the free throw line, compared to New Town’s 25. In the first two games, against the Thompson Tommies and Benson County Wildcats, the Lady Eagles were flagged with 25 fouls in each game. Jaye Two Bears and Baeleigh Brady both fouled out of those two games. The game against Grant County was a moral victory as the team only committed 19 fouls and none of the Lady Eagles fouled out.
“In a state tournament they usually let you play a little bit and be a little more physical,” said Lady Eagles Coach Orville Drosdol. “Some of the fouls were a little ticky-tacky. But you live with them. We had our opportunities. So we can’t second guess anything.”
The Lady Eagles first game was probably the toughest blow. The Lady Eagles dominated the Tommies from the floor, 42-30, but trailed Thompson from the free throw line, by 28 to 10. Still, the Lady Eagles led the game 46-39 after three quarters and held onto the lead in the closing minutes of the game. The Tommies outscored the Lady Eagles in the fourth quarter 19-6. In the second half, 17 of the Tommies 35 points came on free throws.
“It’s tough when you lead for 31 minutes and then lose the one minute that counts,” Drosdol said. “Jaye runs stuff for us and keeps things under control. She does a lot of things defensively and even off the ball, like rebounds. When she’s not in there her presence is really missed.”
