By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
INDIANAPOLIS – How good is Class 2A top-ranked Heritage Christian? Try some of these facts on for size:
Three minutes into their Dec. 6 afternoon girls basketball game at 2006 3A state champion Brebeuf, the Eagles were leading 17-6. The Eagles then went dry, scoring only one time in their next nine possessions. (In fact, they scored only six points in the next five minutes of play.)
At the end of all that, Heritage was still leading 23-6. Oh, by the way, the Eagles put on that defensive display just 14 hours after coming back from a double-digit deficit to defeat national power Whitney Young out of Chicago in overtime.
There was no need for extra time Saturday as the Eagles demolished Brebeuf, 75-33.
Conclusion: Heritage is scary good.
Brebeuf is a pretty good basketball team. In this game, the Eagles held them scoreless for a six-minute span bridging the first and second quarters, then over an eight-minute span bridging the second and third stanzas.
They did it with textbook half-court, man-to-man defense and just enough full-court pressure to speed the Braves up until they were out of their comfort level.
Offensively, Heritage Christian employed a transition game that had Brebeuf gasping for air and a passing game in the half court that was a thing of beauty. The Eagles posted 75 points on a day when they did not shoot particularly well and had more turnovers than the coaching staff would like to see.
Sophomore Liz Stratman led the scoring parade with 17 points, while University of Connecticut-bound senior Kelly Faris added 14 points, seven rebounds, and six steals.
What will not show up in the box score is the play of sophomore Maddie Anderson. It was her defense on the perimeter players of Brebeuf that made the day miserable for the Braves.
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