Recovery.
If you had to use one word to describe Washington’s 56-25 win over University City in the Peoples Bank Holiday Classic consolation semifinals Wednesday, recovery would be it.
The Lady Jays (4-4) bounced back from their first-round loss against Borgia with a dominating victory over the Lady Lions.
And Washington also got a bit healthier as well. Junior Courtney Kedroski, who missed the first-round game Monday, led Washington in scoring with 19 points.
“Overall our girls played a pretty solid game throughout all four quarters,” Washington Head Coach Adam Fischer said. “At times we were a little too relaxed on the defensive end of the floor, but when our bench came in the game, they did a great job of picking the intensity right back up.”
The Lady Jays had eight players score and 10 saw action during the game.
“All 10 players played well this evening and made this a true team victory,” Fischer said. “We didn’t shoot the ball extremely well this evening, but we started doing the little things like rebounding the ball and getting to all the loose balls first. As soon as this becomes habit to us, we are going to be a tough team to beat on any given night.”
Following Kedroski in scoring was Megan Bauche with nine points.
Paige Carpenter scored seven points while Kaitlin Evans ended with six, Kirstie Leslie scored five, Megan Freitag contributed four and Rachel Kackley and Alex Ready scored three points apiece.
Helena Ballmann and Hannah Leslie played, but did not score.
Washington took advantage of 33 University City turnovers.
University City was led by Najh Wilson, who scored nine points.
Sammiyah Clay and Cherise Thomas ended with six points apiece. Precious Foster scored four points before fouling out.
Others playing were Keya Freeman, Arin Johnson and Nakia Yates.
Washington took the lead for good when Kedroski hit a three-point basket early in the first quarter. The Lady Jays scored 22 unanswered points to go up 24-2 midway through the second quarter before the Lady Lions found the basket again.
Washington led 18-2 after one quarter, 32-10 at the half and 48-19 after three quarters. The Lady Jays had a running clock through parts of the fourth quarter.
Washington plays Cuba, a 47-43 winner over Waynesville Wednesday, in Friday’s 5:30 p.m. consolation game. Cuba, the third seed, was upset by Owensville in the opening round, 48-21, but rallied to win the consolation semifinal game against Waynesville Wednesday.
Friday’s consolation game will follow the seventh-place game between University City and Waynesville. That contest tips off at 4 p.m.
After Friday’s game, the Lady Jays will be off for the rest of 2012. Washington will open Union Tournament play against Helias Jan. 7 at 6 p.m.
