TEUTOPOLIS —
The Lady Shoes started slow, but avoided a repeat of their Saturday loss and bested St. Joseph Ogden 49-37 Thursday night.
Teutopolis scored just four points in the first half of Saturday's game in a 43-21 loss to Breese Central, and looked like they might struggle offensively against Thursday. Neither team scored for nearly three minutes, before Madeline Hartke scored with 5:08 left.
Hartke scored nine points in the first quarter while Cierra Thompson added a three, and up 12-7 after one, the Shoes' offense found their rhythm.
"That's how they're starting out." said coach Laurie Thompson. "We shot some shots quick, I want them to be more aggressive. and take good shots
The Shoes went up 16-9 to start the second, but a three-point play by Maddie Poulter for the Spartans cut the lead to 16-12. Thompson called a timeout, and the Shoes recovered with an 8-0 run by Hartke, Thompson and Chelsey Hardiek.
Teutopolis ented the half with a 26-17 lead, but gave up a quick 8-2 run and the Spartans were within three down 28-25.
Thompson called another timeout, and the Shoes extended their lead with a 6-1 run. She credited the improvements out of the timeouts on increased communication on the floor.
"We call those timeouts because it's nothing but chaos out there," Thompson said. "I didn't come up with any great plan, these are the little things you have to be working."
The game would never get closer than eight for the rest of the night, as Teutopolis held off the Spartans' quick guards and their three-point attempts late.
Hartke led the way with 19 points. Thompson scored 10 points and Hardiek and Schumacher had eight points each.
It was the kind of offensive balance the Shoes have been looking for, predicated upon St. Joseph Ogden's zone defense.
"Maddie was inside getting double-teamed most of the night, these outside guards, Cierra, Jessica and Chelsey Hardiek did a great job stepping in and hitting some shots for us," Laurie Thompson said. "That's what they have to do, that's what I expect form them. I'm glad we got to play against that, those guards need that."
Bailey Trimble topped the Spartans with 10 points and Ashley Beals added eight points.
With the win, the Shoes saw some things they can work on defensively to defend teams like SJO.
"That was a pretty good team," Thompson said. "That (defense's) going to have to come from the help side."
Teutopolis is now 16-4 on the season, and they are in back in action on Saturday. They play O'Fallon at Highland High School at 6 p.m.
