Eagles get things half right in victory

January 10, 2001

Eagles get things half right in victory

By DAN KAUFFMAN / Staff Writer

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - With 3 minutes and 40 seconds left Tuesday and Hedgesville holding a 10-point lead, Berkeley Springs girls basketball coach Dale McCumbee was calm and composed while Eagles coach Mary Smith verbally tore into her team, at one point throwing her clipboard down to the floor.

It was an unusual sight to behold during Hedgesville's 43-35 victory, but not an unusual reaction after Smith watched her team's 29-8 halftime lead dwindle away thanks to uninspired play from Hedgesville on the defensive end.

"Our intensity dropped dramatically on the defensive end, and for whatever reason, we were letting them back into the game," Smith said. "I just tried to fire them up however I could.

"A win is a win, and you always feel good about a win."

The Eagles (5-2, 2-0 Apple Valley League) needed no encouragement early, as Megan Bloomer hit two 3-pointers and scored nine of her 13 points in the first quarter as Hedgesville built an 18-5 lead. The Eagles dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Indians 17-3 in the quarter and 47-21 in the game.

"We need to take a little pride in our defense," McCumbee said. "We knew about Bloomer coming in, and we didn't recognize her on defense. ... we didn't do a good job rebounding and playing defense."

But the tide turned in the second half. Berkeley Springs (2-7, 0-1) picked up its game, while Hedgesville slacked off. Trailing 33-15 entering the fourth quarter, the Indians ripped off a 10-2 run that led to Smith calling the timeout.

"They didn't give up, and they're starting to believe in what we're doing," McCumbee said. "The biggest thing is, we can build on this. We just have to get rid of one dead quarter."

Danielle Fox scored 11 of her game-high 15 points in the final quarter for Berkeley Springs, including a one-handed throw from just in front of the opposite foul line that went in at the buzzer, leaving Smith shaking her head one last time.

Hedgesville 43, B. Springs 35

HEDGESVILLE (43)

Leatherman 2, Ashley 7, Bloomer 13, Linn 6, Windle 6, Grove 2, Williams 7. Totals 17 6-13 43.

BERKELEY SPRINGS (35)

Stewart 2, Bracken 7, Close 2, Clingerman 3, Fox 15, Alexander 3, Scherpf 3. Totals 11 12-17 35.

Hedgesville1811410-43

B. Springs53720-35

Three-point goals-Hedgesville 3 (Bloomer 2, Ashley), B. Springs 1 (Fox).

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