Whip-Purs pounce on Rockets

After falling behind 2-1 in the early minutes, the Whip-Purs (7-1) dominated the Rockets in nearly every facet of the game the rest of the way. Hampshire, which forced 15 first-half turnovers, held a lead of 18-6 after the first quarter and 31-11 at halftime. The point differential got as bad as 44-14 in the third quarter before Hampshire coach Sue Ellett began emptying the bench.

"I was pleased with our effort," said Ellett, whose team turned the ball over only six times through the first three quarters. "When we play well and take care of the basketball those are the type of things we can do. We can be a pretty tough group to stop when we are firing on all cylinders."

The Whips buried the Rockets (4-6, 0-1) early behind a 2-2-1 full-court press that gave Central all kinds of fits. The idea behind the defense was to harass Central point guard Jordan Maisto and force her to give the ball up before crossing the half-court line, putting the pressure on her teammates to advance the ball.

It worked perfectly. Central had eight first-quarter turnovers and repeatedly had trouble getting out of traps in the corner just past the half-court line.

"We just had trouble with the press and everybody could see that," Central coach Wade Maisto said. "It's not like we haven't been working on it. I thought (Ellett) might do it and it was a good press. (Jordan Maisto) was not really able to take it and run the show by herself. She always had to pass it off and that's what they wanted."

"We have good, athletic kids that are able to (press)," Ellett said. "And we have a deep enough bench that we are able to continue pressing, as well. You don't get weak legs."
Hampshire juniors Chrissy Heine (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Cassie Dumoulin (13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals) both had 11 points in the first half, equaling Central's total output.

"We just came off to a really good start and that got us this win," said Dumoulin. "It was a very good game for us. Everybody contributed and did what they are good at."

Central didn't make things any easier on itself once it did get by Hampshire's swarming press. The Rockets shot just 3 of 20 from the field in the first half. Hampshire converted 14 of 32 field goal attempts.

"We needed to hit some open shots," Wade Maisto said. "Between that and the turnovers ... they were just better in every phase of the game today. I don't think there was any defense I could have run tonight that would have made a difference on the outcome of this game."

Maisto, who has been bothered by wrist and foot injuries, finished with nine points on 2-of-9 shooting. Junior Taylor Colby had a team-high 14 points and sophomore Alli Settanni had five points and 11 rebounds.

Central senior Molly Turk, who is dealing with a back injury, did not play and is out indefinitely, according to Maisto.