Game ball goes to Gary as Lady Falcons win opener
By MARK MACY
News-Gazette Sports Writer
This one is for youŠCOACH HORNER was in scripted across the back of the Winchester Lady Falcon shooting shirts and the WCHS coaches all wore those same black shirts on the sideline for Saturday night's first girls' basketball game without the Lady Falcons' late coach Gary Horner.
The result was a season-opening 62-43 triumph over the visiting Knightstown Panthers.
It was an emotional night at the Fieldhouse as WCHS Principal Tom Osborn and WCHS Athletic Director Steve Howell presented Gary's widow Linda a plaque that will be permanantly placed on the wall at the Fieldhouse.
Three of Horner's four children were present for a special ceremony that took place before the start of the varsity contest.
Katrina (Horner) Riggin and her husband Rea, Kurt, and Kenny Horner were all there, as was Kate and Reagan Riggin, Horner's granddaughters. Horner's daughter Kristi lives in Pennsylvania and was unable to attend.
Horner died without warning of a heart attack on August 18. He had coached the Lady Falcons the past 15 seasons
"It was a great night all around," reflected WCHS Coach Dale Dodd.
Dodd was obviously joyful for his first varsity coaching victory but his emotions came out as he deflected the victory to Horner.
"Gary's smiling right now - he had to enjoy that (the game)," Dodd remarked somberly. "I know he's watching over us."
Winchester threatened to put the game out of reach early, scoring the first 10 points of the game. Sarah Hamm scored three hoops in the paint and Morgan Peacock scissored the defense with a drive down the lane for a lay up.
Finally, Ashley Meinerding scored underneath and the Lady Falcons were on top 10-0.
Kaelee Kuhn, a 5'7" freshman, drained a trey from the corner to break the ice for the Lady Panthers. That started a little run for Knightstown that closed the deficit to four points with a minute left in the first quarter at 15-11.
Winchester closed out the quarter on a 5-0 run. After an alternating possession call gave the Falcons the ball with 2.7 seconds left under their own basket, Steph Geeting took the inbounds pass and drilled a triple from the deep left baseline, giving Winchester a 20-11 lead at the first break.
The Falcons received a huge lift from Meinerding off the bench in the period, as she scored six points and grabbed four rebounds.
It didn't take the Panthers long to jump back into it, with Natosha Hiner, Kuhn, and Danielle Altman drilling bullseyes.
Geeting connected from long range at 4:40 to make it 23-17, but Kuhn answered from downtown to close the gap to three once more.
The Lady Falcons closed out the half outscoring Knightstown 17-7, using the home run ball effectively. Emily Sells, Kaylie Fraze, and Peacock contributed one each, while Kristen Rheinhart scored a pair of hoops in the paint, and Brittany Shephard and Hamm were a perfect 4-4 at the charity stripe.
The Lady Panthers' Sabrina Hatfield's basket underneath made it a 40-27 contest at the half.
"I really liked our effort from the outset," noted Dodd. "I thought all nine girls stepped up and were ready to play. Then, when we held them to four points and no field goals in the third period, that was big."
The third period began with a Hamm hoop off a Shepherd feed. Hamm scored again before Fraze stepped in front of a pass and dribbled three-quarters court for a lay up. Hatfield's two free throws broke Knightstown's scoring drought.
Winchester led 50-31 following a pair of free tosses by Megan Hiner. The last 30 seconds of the period belonged to Steph Geeting. First, she knocked down a three-pointer. Then, she stole the ball and converted a lay up and was fouled. She missed the resulting free throw, the only foul shot the Lady Falcons missed all night. Winchester led 55-31 after three periods.
Winchester was content to sit in its zone defense and work the ball around in the fourth period. They scored just seven points on a Fraze three, a pair of Hamm free throws, and a Shepherd lay up off a Peacock feed.
The Panthers dropped to 0-2 on the season, having dropped a decision to Hagerstown earlier in the week. Kuhn was their only double figure scorer with 14.
Hamm had a solid all around game for WC. She had 16 points, 12 rebounds, and eight blocked shots. Geeting finished with 14 markers.
The Lady Falcons have double duty this coming weekend, hosting Tri Eastern Conference foe Tri on Friday night before visiting Jay County on Saturday night.
Reserve summary
Winchester 21, Knightstown 15
The Steve Rutledge coached Lady Falcon jayvee squad also opened the season with a victory, leading at every stop en route to a 21-15 victory. Heather Hersberger paced the Falcon attack with nine points and eight rebounds. Kristen Baker added four points and three rebounds, while Ashleigh Maggart also scored four points.
Varsity Summary
Knightstown 11 27 31 43
Winchester 20 40 55 62
Falcons-Meinerding 4 0-0 8, Fraze 3 0-0 8, Short 0 0-0 0, Peacock 2 0-0 5, Rheinhart 2 0-0 4, Shepherd 1 2-2 4, Sells 1 0-0 3, Hamm 6 4-4 16, Geeting 5 0-1 14. Totals 24 6-7 62.
Reserve summary
Knightstown 1 5 10 15
Winchester 4 13 17 21
Falcons-Meinerding 0, Maggart 4, Baker 4, Hersberger 9, Dixon 2, Pegg 2, Lang 0, Hirschy 0, Gough 0, Densmore 0, Goodhew 0, Wiinger 0.
