First Posted: 1/29/2015
BATH TOWNSHIP — Here’s a scary thought to opposing teams. Bath’s Maddie Dackin said her team can get even better.
But on Thursday, the Wildkittens’ press and 3-point shooting were pretty solid.
Bath hit 11 3-pointers en route to a 55-24 girls basketball victory over Van Wert at Bath.
For Bath, it marks its 39th straight Western Buckeye League victory in a row, including four straight WBL titles. Bath is 15-1, 6-0 in the WBL. Van Wert is 4-13, 0-5 in the WBL.
“I don’t think we’ve peaked yet,” Dackin said. “I think we can definitely get better.”
On the night, Bath hit 11 of 27 on 3-pointers, mostly over the Cougars’ 3-2 zone.
“We kept telling them to make the extra pass because they can’t cover everyone on the floor,” Bath coach Greg Mauk said. “And if you don’t have a good look, give the ball to the next player. We kept sharing the ball and getting the ball to people who were open. Then, when the shot went up, we were relentless crashing the boards.”
Maddie Dackin led Bath with 16 points and three 3-pointers.
“We knew they were going to run that zone and we were very patient tonight to get really good shots,” Dackin said.
Alyssa Manley had 11 points and three 3-pointers. Haylee Brenek came off the bench and hit three 3-pointers for nine points.
“She (Brenek) has been lights out for us off the bench the last couple of games,” Mauk said.
Brenek added, “I’ve changed a few things with my shot and that’s helped me.”
Van Wert started the game in a 3-2 zone.
Bath’s simple answer was to shoot over it. The Wildkittens canned four 3-pointers in the first quarter to run out to a 14-3 lead. Smith, Manley, Maddie Dackin and Haylee Brenek all sank one three.
At the defensive end, Bath went the whole first half in a 2-2-1 press, which forced Van Wert into six first-quarter turnovers. For the game, Van Wert ended up with 21 turnovers.
“We feed off that 2-2-1 press. It gets things going for us,” Mauk said.
Added Maddie Dackin, “We fixed a few things tonight on that press.”
Bath went into halftime with a 22-10 lead. Maddie Dackin had 10 at the half.
Bath won the boards, 32-21, including 22-2 on the offensive end. Ellie Dackin led Bath with eight rebounds.
Bath outscored Van Wert 18-7 in the third quarter and the Wildkittens’ lead grew to 40-17.
