By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
There's an old saying that goes, "it's hard to beat a team twice."
It's held up, because it proves to be true many times.
Bishop LeBlond (16-7) walloped North Andrew in the LeBlond Holiday Tournament, 66-20, back in late December.
It was by no means easy the second time around, but the Eagles beat the Cardinals in a rematch, 51-37, on Wednesday night at Bishop LeBlond High School in the Class 2 District 16 semifinals.
North Andrew (14-10), who entered Wednesday's game on a six-game winning streak, gave the No. 1 seed LeBlond all it could handle, trailing only 29-26 after three quarters.
"They played aggressive," Eagles coach Jackie Ziesel said. "Amazing man defense. It kind of threw us off. We prepared for it some, but props to North Andrew for coming out and just scouting us really well."
The fourth quarter belonged to LeBlond, as they opened the frame on an 8-0 run and were an impressive 16-of-21 from the free throw line over the final eight minutes.
"I think we were finally just ready to play," junior Sloan Lewis said after scoring a game-high 13 points. "We're a second half team."
Coach Ziesel concurred with that analysis.
"As Sloan said, we always say we're a second half team," she said. "We know that we'll continue to be that second half team. Right now, we're still trying to gain that confidence in the first and get that lead going so we don't have to be that second half team."
Even in the second half, it didn't come easy. Sloan picked up her fourth foul late in the second half, while her sister, Shae, had three fouls before halftime.
Ziesel rotated the bench plenty, but sent her starting five back out to start the third quarter.
"It was kind of nerve wracking there for a little bit," Ziesel admitted, "when we had three of our five starters with four fouls and sitting on the bench. That's where our young talent with experience at the of the game comes into play just to slowly take control and sometimes, they add that spark enough to where it gets everyone else up and going."
Indeed, LeBlond is young, with no seniors on the roster. But young stars, like sophomore Tatum Studer who scored 10 points, or freshman Kyla Conard who went 3-of-4 at the foul line in the fourth quarter, are rising to the occasion.
LeBlond, enjoying one of its best runs in basketball in recent years, will head to North Andrew High School on Friday to face No. 2 seed East Atchison (18-7), who upended Albany Wednesday, 38-31.
Like North Andrew, LeBlond has beaten the Wolves once before. A 61-56 victory in the Mound City tournament title in fact.
Clearly, a district tournament carries a little extra weight, and anything can happen in the postseason. But, Bishop LeBlond has proven one thing.
It's hard to beat a team twice. Hard, but certainly not impossible. Even when the season is on the line.
"They're going to be tough to beat," Ziesel said. "We beat them once, and it's always hard to beat someone a second time. But, I think if our girls come into the game with the right mindset, and be focused and determined like we were the last time we played them, we'll get the win."
Bishop LeBlond 51 - 13, 5, 11, 21
North Andrew 37 - 9, 4, 13, 11
Bishop LeBlond scorers - Sloan Lewis - 13, Shae Lewis - 12, Tatum Studer - 10, Kyla Conard - 7, Emma Raines - 6, Kayla Beam - 2, Katie Beam - 1
North Andrew scorers - Alaina Officer - 12, Riley Walker - 10, Brylie Brincks - 9, Carlie Grace - 2, Makenna Goldizen - 2, Reagan Walker - 2
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