Ottawa uses stingy defense to top rival L-P

LA SALLE – Ottawa girls basketball coach Brent Moore expected a low-scoring, defensive battle against rival La Salle-Peru.

That’s exactly what happened.

Led by a tenacious defensive effort from Gabi Krueger and just enough offense at key moments, the Pirates picked up a 34-24 victory in an Interstate Eight Conference game at L-P.

“I thought we played really well as a team,” Krueger said. “We helped on defense. We practiced pinching and we helped on the shooters.

“Offensively, we were slow at first, but we picked it up and made important shots. We have great shooters and Cheyenne [Joachim] was tough down low.”

The win was Moore’s 100th as Ottawa coach in his seventh season.

“I’m blessed to be coaching the sport I love at the school I went to,” Moore said. “I enjoy being around the girls – interacting with them, talking and joking with them. Basketball is part of it, but I’m blessed to be around a great group.

“It’s a great milestone, but it stems back to the players on the floor. I provide guidance, but the girls take care of it on the floor.”

Krueger said she enjoyed being part of the feat.

“He’s my favorite coach,” Krueger said. “He helps us out a lot – not just on the court. It’s so exciting.”

Krueger played a key role as she drew the assignment of guarding standout L-P point guard Brooklyn Ficek.

“We game planned for Brooklyn,” Moore said. “She’s one of the best in the conference. One thing Gabi prides herself on is her defense We prepped with her, and I told her she’s only getting a breather if [Ficek] is off the floor. She accepted the challenge. Gabi did a great jo,b but the other four girls pinched the gaps to close Ficek’s driving lanes and were still engaged and able to stick on their girls as well.”

Krueger chased Ficek around and challenged her shots, holding Ficek to five points on one 3-pointer – that came in the fourth quarter – and a pair of free throws.

“She’s a great player,” Krueger said. “She’s speedy. It’s hard to see where she’s going. I did what I could. It was definitely tiring.

“I don’t really think [limiting her] was me. We worked on pinching. If she got by me, we had four defenders in the lane forcing her to kick outside. That helped.”

The Pirates held L-P to two points in the first quarter, five in the second and three in the third.

With Ottawa limiting L-P’s offense, the Pirates (20-5, 9-3 I-8) built a 23-12 lead after three quarters.

Brooke Waddell drained three 3-pointers in the first half, while Zoe Harris hit a pair of 3s and made four free throws to score all 10 of her points in the second half.

Joachim provided an inside presence, scoring a game-high 11 points, including eight in the second half.

“We talked about trying to get more inside touches with Cheyenne,” Moore said. “That started to open things for our perimeter shooting. Cheyenne was able to get to the rim. Zoe and Brooke hit some big shots. We scored enough to get the job done.”

The Cavaliers managed to double their offensive output with 12 points in the fourth quarter but had a tough shooting night, making 20% of their field goals (8 of 40).

“We’re struggling on offense big time,” L-P coach Hollis Vickery said. “Defensively, we were fine. They work the ball well. We didn’t cover a few plays, and that really hurts in a game like this.

“For some reason, we’ve lost our confidence shooting. Part of it was Ottawa’s defense, no doubt. The last four or five games we’re not shooting well. We live on the 3 and fast breaks. Right now, we’re not getting either. We got good looks – we forced some – and we didn’t bury them.”

Addison Duttlinger and Jenesis Greening each scored six points to lead L-P (18-6, 7-3).