By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
On occasion, the Greenwood Lady Jays will stay at their team bench instead of going into the locker room at halftime.
It usually means the first half didn’t go so well.
“Only when coach gets really mad,” said Greenwood senior Elif Benzer, describing how often it happens. “I was getting ready to go to the locker room (tonight), actually. He goes, ‘Nope, we’re staying out here.’”
The tactic improves efficiency – and gives the coach some extra time to vent.
“There are moments that we do that,” said Greenwood coach Mike Percival. “Back here, they have us in adjacent locker rooms so you can hear whatever. That, and the fact that you waste two minutes going in and coming back out.
“There’s a lot of reasons. But a lot of the time, it means I’m irritated.”
With better shot selection and defense, the Lady Jays pulled away in the second half to earn their second tournament title in as many weeks.
Greenwood (6-0 overall) rallied from a four-point halftime deficit to defeat Hartville 49-40 in the championship game of the Fordland Lady Eagle Invitational on Friday night.
Alyssa Newman (15), Benzer (13) and Harper Pinkston (10) all reached double figures for the Lady Jays, who held Hartville to just 13 points in the second half.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“Everyone was contributing,” Newman said. “Gia Lutomske was blocking shots, Hannah Richards was drawing charges, Elif (Benzer) was knocking down some 3s, Sam (Schneider) was driving to the rim and penetrating.
“Everyone played a really good, all-around game and tournament.”
A week removed from winning the Fair Play Tournament, where they beat Bolivar’s JV, Halfway and Stockton, Greenwood went basket-for-basket early on with Hartville.
But a quick shot by Greenwood in the waning seconds of the first half gave Hartville enough time for an extra possession. The Lady Eagles capitalized with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Kinley Cryer and took a 27-23 lead into intermission.
“They can play smarter than that,” Percival said of his halftime message to the team. “We didn’t finish very well. We took a shot early, they got the rebound and came down and we left their shooter open on the perimeter and they scored.
“When you have the last possession (of the first half), the worst thing you want to happen is missing a shot. That’s it. They know better than that. We’re learning.”
Said Benzer: “Coach got a little on to us there. We weren’t exactly playing the best we could have played.”
The Lady Jays retook the lead in the third quarter. Benzer’s putback with 1:15 remaining put Greenwood ahead 47-40 after Hartville had clawed back within five points.
Maddie Brown scored 13 and Kinley Cryer added 12 points for Hartville (2-1 overall).
Benzer and Newman made the all-tournament team for Greenwood. Newman, a sophomore, was named tournament MVP.
“It was a surprise, but I’m happy to have it,” Newman said. “I’m very, very grateful for everything.”
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
Greenwood is hoping to build upon last season’s 17-9 campaign. The Lady Jays have all five starters back this year and will host their district tournament.
“We hope to make a state run, that would be awesome,” Newman said. “First thing’s first, we have to take care of business each week.”
Winning two tournaments in the first two weeks of the season is a good confidence-booster for those postseason aspirations.
“They’re excited,” Percival said. “Sometimes, they have a little self-doubt. We try to comb that out of them. We’re pretty good. We have nights where we struggle, but for the most part, we’re a pretty good team.”
Hartville’s next game is Monday night, Dec. 8 at home against Mountain Grove. Greenwood will play at Willow Springs (Dec. 11) then face Summit Christian Academy at home in the Bill Rowe Queen City Classic next Saturday (Dec. 13).
CHAMPIONSHIP: Greenwood 49, Hartville 40
Hartville 14 13 5 8 — 40
Greenwood 14 9 12 14 — 49
Hartville (2-1 overall) – Maddie Brown 13, Kinley Cryer 12, Gensen Culver 8, Sarah Palmer 5
Greenwood (6-0 overall) – Alyssa Newman 15, Elif Benzer 13, Harper Pinkston 10, Gia Lutomske 6, Hannah Richards 4, Emma Daugherty 1
THIRD PLACE: Dora 53, Houston 22 – PHOTOS – VIDEO
Dora – 17-15-7-14 – 53
Houston – 3-12-4-3 – 22
D: Kinley Luna 15, Montgomery Mitchell 10, Ashlyn Carter 9, Isabelle Martin 8, Kynslee Vandiver 7, Ellie Ullom 2, Jamie Hall 2
H: Ashley Gilbert 8, Isabella Cook 5, Millie Manier 3, Gracyn McNeill 3, Ava Koch 2, Kynlee Weaver 1
CONSOLATION: Fordland 53, Conway 26 – PHOTOS – VIDEO
Fordland – 14-7-19-10 – 53
Conway – 0-7-8-11 — 26
F: Reece Holmes 20, Kayleigh Steimel 17, Elliana Garber 10, Chloe Spoon 5, Lydia Vickers 1
C: Madison Thompson 8, Katen Wilson 7, Hailey Doehring 5, Lucy Dampier 3, Elizabeth Judy 3
SEVENTH PLACE: School of the Ozarks 52, Forsyth JV 32 – PHOTOS – VIDEO
School of the Ozarks – 16-9-12-15 – 52
Forsyth JV – 2-10-6-14 — 32
S: Hailey Housley 12, Cora Presson 10, Helena Smilie 9, Elenaor Osborne 9, Claire Knight 8, Sophie Mason 2, McKenzie Fitzpatrick 2
F: Gianni Oldham 16, Addison Russell 6, Madison Hagey 5, Sophie Burnett 2, Alivia Hankins 2, Carolynn Lyerla 1
