In a methodical game that featured plenty of missed opportunities on both sides, the Steeleville Lady Warriors held off Elverado, 36-28, in nonconference action on Dec. 2.
Steeleville (6-2) led for almost all of the contest, aside from a brief period at the end of the first quarter when Emma Funk drained a 3-pointer to give Elverado a 4-3 lead.
But the Lady Warriors went on a 12-3 run, taking a 15-7 lead on a trey by Mackenzie Pim with 3:16 left in the second quarter. Steeleville took a 15-9 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
"It was a very slow-paced game," said Steeleville coach John Antonacchi. "At least until the end.
"When you have a little bit of foul trouble, you have to adjust and we talked all year about having players step up and be willing to knock down shots."
Pim picked up her fourth foul with 2:51 left in the third quarter and Steeleville enjoying a 17-11 lead after a Karley Kothe jumper. Another 3-pointer by Funk brought the Falcons within five, 19-14, with 54 seconds left in the third quarter, but the Lady Warriors finished the frame by scoring five straight points.
Steeleville eventually extended its lead to 14, 28-14, on a steal and layup by Chloe Gordon 55 seconds into the fourth quarter. But Elverado refused to go away, gradually hammering away at the deficit as the quarter went along.
The Falcons were helped by several offensive rebounds down the stretch.
"We were tipping basketballs instead of grabbing the rebounds," Antonacchi said. "When that happens...you tip it, you're not going to get the ball.
"It's going to get tipped to one of their guards or one of their players that you're trying to box out."
Lexi Middendorf, Sydney Hood and Kothe all scored eight points to lead the Lady Warriors, who face undefeated Cahokia Conference Kaskaskia Division leader Lebanon today in Steeleville.
The Greyhounds (8-0) snapped Red Bud's three-game win streak on Dec. 1 and aside from a 39-31 win over Breese Central on Nov. 22, have been beating their opponents by more than 20 points.
