Maroonettes unable to slow down Lenox

DIAGONAL – Diagonal held Lenox close through eight minutes Monday night, but couldn’t slow down the Tigers in a 61-22 final.

The Tigers (7-1) jumped ahead 6-2 through the first minutes and briefly had the score evened up by Diagonal (1-7) at 6-6. Lenox, however, kept its speed consistent on the floor with a steady rotation of players by the bunches.

“It gives everyone a chance to play, step up, and we can kind of see what everyone’s strengths are,” said Lenox head coach Jesse Cox. “Second semester, other teams are going to start developing trends, and we’re going to be able to game plan for them a little bit more, and where everyone needs to be. ... Wherever we are, at 7-1, it’s a good problem to have.”

An and-one play converted by Kambrie Michel made the score 13-8 at the end of the first, and acted as the catalyst for a 15-0 run by Lenox to make it 28-8.

Keeping the contest close, Diagonal had scores from Taylor Lumbard, Anna Newton and Lauren Burton. Maroonettes head coach Gina Warren mentioned slowing down Lenox as something she wanted the her team to do, doing it as best as possible with just six players.

“We were slowing them down, taking away their game, and (Jesse Cox) wants to play fast,” said Warren. “He wants to press. That’s what I’ve routinely wanted to do in the past as well. The girls were poised and was making Lenox change their game. ... They can rotate five in and five out so it doesn’t change much for them. (We) did it the best (we) could with the six (we) had.”

Lenox took notice to Diagonal’s plan early, adjusting after the break.

“Diagonal did a good job. We knew they’d be patient and come out and slow us down,” said Cox. “That worked for a little while, and we stepped up the defense and got (the game) uptempo and took care of business.”

Entering halftime, Lenox had a comfortable lead at 37-10 but didn’t pull of the press as a tired Diagonal team continued to struggle. A 15-3 third quarter set up a fourth quarter where Diagonal got into the scorebook a little more, but was well out of reach in the final eight minutes.

The zone press by Lenox was relentless, but adjusted to Diagonal’s ability to break through the defense.

“I was proud of our girls. I haven’t seen the Lenox girls play one man-to-man game yet,” said Warren. “... I felt like we executed well enough they had to go out of what they’re routinely used to doing. ... I thought the girls handled it really well, and [I’m] proud of them for what they did in the effort.”

Warren mentioned three players not working through practice leading to Monday’s game due to quarantine from COVID-19.

Leading in scoring for Lenox was Cassidy Nelson with 16 points, converting a team-high three 3-pointers. Lumbard was the leader in scoring for Diagonal with 10 points.

UP NEXT — Lenox will next play in 2021, against Griswold at home at 6 p.m. Jan. 4. Diagonal will next play after the holiday break as well, playing a rescheduled tilt at home against Lamoni at 6 p.m. Jan. 7.

Lenox 61, Diagonal 22

LENOX (61) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 25 4-6 61. Cassidy Nelson 5 3-3 16, TJ Stoaks 7 0-2 14, Brookyln Ecklin 4 0-0 10, McKinna Hogan 3 0-0 8, Kambrie Michel 3 1-1 7, Angela Zapata 2 0-0 4, Jordan England 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 7 (Nelson 3, Hogan 2, Ecklin 2). Team fouls — 14. Fouled out — none.

DIAGONAL (22) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 9 4-7 22. Taylor Lumbard 3 4-6 10, Anna Newton 3 0-1 6, Lauren Burton 2 0-0 4, Alaina Whittington 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 0. Team fouls — 8. Fouled out — None.