By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Bishop LeBlond turned a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter into a 10-point advantage at halftime.
By the end, the Golden Eagles (8-1) pulled away for a 48-23 win over Plattsburg in the 76th annual Bishop LeBlond Holiday tournament at Grace Gymnasium Wednesday.
Plattsburg (5-5) was held to just six total points in the second and third quarters combined. The Golden Eagles also forced 18 turnovers.
"We put the ball in the hole," LeBlond head coach Jackie Steltenpohl said. "We executed well on offense and shared. Kept hitting our shots and came out firing in the third quarter."
"As long as we continue to focus on moving our feet and boxing out and not allowing second opportunities at the basket, we're going to win some more games."
Kyla Conard and Kayla Beam led LeBlond with nine points each. Rilyn Conard finished with eight. Kaleigh Ziesel and Kendall Cathcart tallied six. Ten Golden Eagles scored the ball.
Letecia Howard led Plattsburg with nine points.
The Golden Eagles now face Savannah (5-3) in pool play on Thursday night at 7.
"I know (Savannah) will come out and be aggressive in man (defense) with us," Steltenpohl said. "We have to be ready to take care of the ball and again play lockdown defense, because they have good scorers."
LeBlond boys dominate on defense early, hold on for win over Lawson
The Bishop LeBlond boys were a little sleepy to start, leading only 7-2 by the end of the first quarter.
The Golden Eagles, though, held Lawson without a made field goal in the entire first half and cruised to a 35-14 lead by the end of the third.
LeBlond, however, was a little sleepy to finish as they coasted to a 38-27 win over the Cardinals Wednesday.
"We're always having that little lull or spell where we're not playing well and can't figure out how to get out of it," LeBlond head coach Mitch Girres said. "No different tonight. We played pretty well for the better part of 2.5 quarters, and then kind of just stood around and didn't continue to guard the right way."
Lawson (4-5) scored only three points in the first half - all from the free throw line. LeBlond, meanwhile, sunk six total three pointers and scored 28 of their 38 points in the second and third quarter combined.
Chris Miljavic led the Eagles with 12 points. Trey Icke had seven. Chase Jones led Lawson with 13.
LeBlond advances to the tournament semifinals, where they'll face Plattsburg (8-2) on Thursday at 7 p.m.
It was the Tigers who ended LeBlond's season in sectionals this past February. Plattsburg plowed through North Andrew Wednesday, 69-35. North Dakota State commit Isaia Howard had 34 points.
"Hope we can put the ball in the hole a little bit more than we have lately," Girres said. "It's going to be a challenge, that's for sure. They've been rolling for the last year-and-a-half. When they have their best player on the floor, it's going to be tough."
Other LeBlond tournament scores Wednesday
Girls
West Platte 56 Nodaway Valley 48
Savannah 47 North Andrew 18
Boys
Savannah 55 Pleasant Hill 40
West Platte 39 Nodaway Valley 36
Thursday schedule
Girls
West Platte vs. North Andrew - 1 p.m.
Nodaway Valley vs. Plattsburg - 4 p.m.
LeBlond vs. Savannah - 7 p.m.
Boys'
Nodaway Valley vs. Pleasant Hill (consolation) - 11:30 a.m.
North Andrew vs. Lawson (consolation) - 2:30 p.m.
Savannah vs. West Platte - 5:30 p.m.
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