DIETERICH — The Lady Maroons got after Oblong defensively and cruised to a 44-33 win to open the girls holiday tournament.
Oblong made its first three shots and led 8-2 early in the first quarter, but went ice cold from there as the Maroons dialed up the pressure. Dieterich would take an 18-10 lead late in the second quarter, capping off a 16-2 run for the Maroons.
The Panthers made two shots in the rest of the half after the 8-2 start, as the Dieterich press wreaked havoc.
The press is something coach Donetta Ohnesorge and the Maroons have been working on, and it forced turnover after turnover as Dieterich raced ahead.
“We didn’t feel too good about it at the beginning of the season, but the girls are getting comfortable in their roles,” Ohnesorge said.
Dieterich carried a 25-13 lead into the locker room, and held Oblong scoreless for nearly the entire second quarter before a late three by Taylor Smith.
The Maroons’ second quarter was played mostly withoput Candace Niemerg, who scored four points in the quarter before picking up her second foul. Mallorie Vahling picked up the offensive load with eight points while the defense held its ground.
“That was really, really big,” Ohnesorge said. “Candace is one of those players that’s scored a lot for us. (But) if everyone does what they’re supposed to do, we can be a really good team.”
Both teams struggled with turnovers, but Dieterich stayed out in front for the entirety of the second half.
Oblong pulled closer in the fourth, outscoring the Maroons 13-7, but both coaches emptied their benches about halfway through the quarter as the game was already out of hand.
Niemerg led all scorers with 12 points, while Vahling added 10 and Courtney Flach had nine points.
Keslie Harper had 10 points for Oblong and Smith added nine points.
Dieterich 44, Oblong 33
Dieterich 10 15 12 7 — 44
Oblong 10 3 7 13 — 33
Dieterich — Niemerg 12, Vahling 10, Flach 9, Higgs 6, Meinhart 4, Wright 3
Oblong — Harper 10, Smith 9, Lockhart 8, Chiddix 3, Pinkston 3
