Lady Wildcats defeat Kouts 68-36 on road; prepare for 'Winter Classic'

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
12-14-2015

Brooke Sterkowitz (11) lays one up over Bell Wireman on a fast break at Kouts Saturday. Sterkowitz scored 25 points in the first half. (All photos by Mark Smith) 
Kay Christy (25) of Kouts calls for the ball in front of Hanover Central's Alyssa Gill last week at Kouts. Hanover led 46-19 at the half.
Hanover's Lisa Gac peaks over the shoulder of Kouts' senior Emma Leatherman (15) last week in Kouts. Hanover won 68-36.
Hanover's Carley Siems (12) fires up a three-point shot last week at Kouts. HC sank eight three-pointers in the nonconference matchup.
Hanover freshman Kayla Davis (21) tries to stop Kouts' Emma Leatherman from heading towards the basket. HC led all the way in a 32-point win.
Hanover center Lisa Gac (24) gets loose for a layup early Saturday at Kouts. HC led 21-12 after one quarter.
Hanover's Brooke Sterkowitz (11) looks to pass inside against Kouts Saturday. HC won for the fifth game in a row.
Hanover Central's Sarah Blue (31) and Jessy Siems (25) harass Kouts' senior Kay Christy (25) last week in Porter County. Hanover has lost only to Highland this season.
The Kouts bench watches Hanover junior Sarah Blue (31) fire a three-point shot from the corner. Hanover is 6-1 in road games this year.
HC senior Alex Glidewell eyes a free throw Saturday at Kouts. HC is looking ahead to the eight-team Hanover 'Winter Classic' holiday tournament Dec 22-23 in Cedar Lake. (All photos by Mark Smith)
 

Copyright © 2015 USA-365.com and Meyer Multimedia Services, a division of Meyer Broadcasting Corp.  All rights reserved.
Revised: December 16, 2015 .
Team /Record 1 2 3 4 Final
HANOVER (9-1) 21 25 12 10 68
KOUTS (4-4) 12 7 7 10 36

Saturday, December 5, 2015 - Non-conference game at KOUTS, IN

HANOVER (68) Lisa Gac 3-0-6, Brooke Sterkowitz 11-5-29, Alex Glidewell 5-0-15, Sarah Blue 2-0-5, Carley Siems 1-0-3, Jessy Siems 1-3-5, Kayla Davis 0-1-1, Alyssa Gill 1-0-2, Breanna Kerley 1-0-2, Juli Bartosek 0-0-0. TOTALS: 25 (9-18) 68.

KOUTS (36) Sadie Leatherman 3-1-9, Emma Leatherman 3-2-8, Chloe Koedyker 1-2-4, Lauren Yager 1-0-2, Bell Wireman 5-2-13, Kay Christy 0-1-1, Olivia Cowsert 0-0-0. TOTALS: 13 (8-13) 36.

FREE THROWS: HANOVER (9-18, 50%) Brooke Sterkowitz 5-10, Jessy Siems 3-5, Kayla Davis 1-2, Alex Glidewell 0-1 . KOUTS (8-13, 61.4%) Sadie Leatherman 1-2, Emma Leatherman 2-4, Koedyker 2-4, Wireman 2-2, Christy 1-2, Cowsert 0-1.

REBOUNDS: HANOVER (27) Kerley 4, Blue 4, Gac 4, Gill 3, Jessi Siems 3, Davis 3, Carley Simes 2, Glidewell 2, Sterkowitz 2;
KOUTS (28) Koedyker 8, Sadie Leatherman 7, Emma Leatherman 3, Yager 3, Christy 3, Cowsert 3, Wireman.

ASSISTS: HANOVER (13) Jessy Siems 5, Sterkowitz 2, Carley Siems 2, Lisa Gac 2, Breana Kerley, Kayla Davis; KOUTS (5) Emma Leatherman 3, Sadie Leatherman, Chloe Koedyker.

BLOCKED SHOTS: HANOVER (6) Lisa Gac 6, Alex Glidewell; KOUTS (0)

3-GOALS: HANOVER (9) Alex Glidewell 5, Brooke Sterkowitz 2, Sarah Blue, Carley Siems; KOUTS (3) Sadie Leatherman 2, Bell Wireman.

KOUTS (12-05-2015) You’ve probably seen the scores. Hanover wins 70-39. 76-21. 52-22. 66-10. Some of it’s the competition in the Greater South Shore Conference (GSSC).

Some of it's not.

Last Saturday in a game that seemed like it should be close be on paper. On a sunny Saturday in Porter County, it wasn’t.

Hanover Central (9-1) topped Kouts 68-36, the Lady Cats’ fifth consecutive victory.

Senior Brooke Sterkowitz scored 29 points in three quarters of play. Alex Glidewell hit five three-point shots and 6-foot-2 Lisa Gac blocked six shots. Jessy Siems had five assists in the first half while HC built a 46-19 lead.

“Their guards all handle the ball well,” said Kouts coach Ron Kobza. “That’s a big factor. When we ran our sets (set plays), we did OK but we didn’t get into our sets a lot.”

“The big thing is: that’s five seniors they put out there to start the game. That’s a very experienced team. It's tough. They can handle the ball and they can shoot.”

Sterkowitz, who made 59 three-point shots in 27 games last season, is 25 of 80 through 11 games this season. The four-year varsity player is averaging 18 points a game and once her foul shooting catches up (Brooke is 25 of 54, 46%) to her norm (she shot 71 % last season) there's more she can do to keep the wins coming.

“She’s playing well,” said Nelson. “Playing with intensity. Had 25 in the first half. Lisa and Brooke have a played a lot of games together. Six, seven years. She knows where Brooke is for the outlet passes. We’re working on our defense. Trying to keep using our feet instead of our hands. We thought we could push the ball up the floor on them.”

Nelson said he’s not sure how his team feels about the final scores of some of the early season games. Hanover has won six games by 30 points or more, but the girls surely know that more formidable competition is ahead.

“We always have a lot of respect for Kouts. Ron always has his team ready. They’re fundamentally sound. To come play here in the afternoon is a learning experience. Our first afternoon game of the year. We have one in our tournament and we play Bowman on a Saturday afternoon.”

“We’re playing well. We just want to keep it going.”

CAT NOTES: Crown Point could easily meet Hanover Central again in the annual Hanover ‘Winter Classic’ holiday tournament on Dec. 22-23. HC (10-1) and CP (6-2) have the two best records in the eight team field. Hanover opens play at 11 a.m. against Washington Township (5-4), while Crown Point is beginning play in the eight-team tourney against Griffith (0-11) at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22. This will be the ninth Hanover ‘Winter Classic’ and the home team has never won the tournament. Internet radio USA-365.com will broadcast the semifinals and finals the evenings of Dec. 22-23, with a double-header broadcast each night. The Wildcat Winter Classic on USA-365.com is being sponsored again this year by ASC Automotive Service Center, with repair shops located in St. John and Chicago.

Hanover topped Kankakee Valley 47-34 last Tuesday night (Dec. 8). Then on Saturday (Dec. 12), Hanover played another girls/boys double-header at Wheeler, with the Lady Wildcats defeating the Lady Bearcats 60-39, to improve to 11-1 for the season.. Wheeler is coached by former Hanover athletic director Dave Seils. Senior Lisa Gac blocked 12 shots and grabbed 12 rebounds. Brooke Sterkowitz scored 17.

Hanover senior Breanna Kerley came off the bench and grabbed five rebounds against KV. Kerley injured her knee last month and is trying to rehab and play at the same time.

“The trainer says she’s about 75-percent,” said coach Doug Nelson. “But she’s getting a new brace this week and she’s a trooper. She doesn’t want to sit out. I’ve seen her wince a couple of times, but she won't let us know she’s hurt.”

CLASS SECTIONAL JOHN HARRELL'S INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PAST SEASONS
3A 18 E-MAIL CORRECTIONS MAP TO SCHOOL 11-1
RED, BLUE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
HANOVER CENTRAL
WILDCATS
Coach: Doug Nelson, 122-90 in 10th year at school, 137-117 in 12th year overall
DATE OPPONENT CENTRAL TIME OA 59.6, DA 36.0
Nov. 3 Portage {4A}  W   42-  41  
Nov. 7 at North Newton {2A}‡  W   70-  39  
Nov. 10 Rensselaer Central {3A}  W   54-  23  
Nov. 14 at Lake Station {2A}‡  W   76-  21  
Nov. 17 at Highland {4A}   L   57-  58  
Nov. 20 at Crown Point {4A}  W   68-  60  
Nov. 25 Lowell {4A}  W   52-  22  
Nov. 28 at River Forest {2A}‡  W   55-  49  
Dec. 2 Calumet {3A}‡  W   66-  10  
Dec. 5 at Kouts {1A}  W   68-  36  
Dec. 8 at Kankakee Valley {4A}  W   47-  34  
Dec. 12 at Wheeler {3A}‡  W   60-  39  
Dec. 16 Andrean {3A} 7:00 pm  
Dec. 19 at Bowman Academy {2A} 1:30 pm  
Dec. 22 Hanover Central Tournament  through Dec. 23
Dec. 30 Munster {4A} 7:00 pm  
Jan. 6 at Hammond Noll {2A}‡ 7:00 pm  
Jan. 8 Marquette Catholic {1A}‡ 7:00 pm  
Jan. 14 at East Chicago Central {4A} 7:00 pm  
Jan. 20 Beecher (Ill.) 7:00 pm  
Jan. 30 Whiting {2A}‡ 7:00 pm  
‡GREATER SOUTH SHORE CONFERENCE GAME
 
CLASS SECTIONAL JOHN HARRELL'S INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PAST SEASONS
1A 49 E-MAIL CORRECTIONS MAP TO SCHOOL 7-4
BLACK, GOLD TOURNAMENT HISTORY
KOUTS
FILLIES
Coach: Ron Kobza, 116-53 in 8th year at school
DATE OPPONENT CENTRAL TIME OA 46.8, DA 48.1
Nov. 10 at Wheeler {3A}  W   49-  46  
Nov. 14 at Kankakee Valley {4A}   L   51-  73  
Nov. 17 North Newton {2A}  W   53-  37  
Nov. 19 at Covenant Christian (DeMotte) {1A}  W   46-  40  
Nov. 21 at West Central {1A}  W   51-  27  
Nov. 28 at North Judson {2A}   L   34-  62  
Dec. 1 Washington Twp. {1A}‡   L   44-  53  
Dec. 5 Hanover Central {3A}   L   36-  68  
Dec. 7 Lowell {4A}  W   49-  42  
Dec. 8 at Westville {1A}‡  W   65-  45  
Dec. 12 Morgan Twp. {1A}‡  W   37-  36  
Dec. 14 Whiting {2A} 7:00 pm  
Dec. 19 Hebron {2A}‡ 7:00 pm  
Dec. 22 at Highland {4A} 7:00 pm  
Jan. 5 at Knox {2A} 7:00 pm  
Jan. 9 South Central (Union Mills) {1A}‡ 2:30 pm  
Jan. 12 LaCrosse {1A}‡ 7:00 pm  
Jan. 14 Winamac {2A} 7:00 pm  
Jan. 18 Porter County Conference Tournament  through Jan. 23
Jan. 26 at Boone Grove {2A}‡ 7:00 pm  
Jan. 28 River Forest {2A} 7:00 pm  
‡PORTER COUNTY CONFERENCE GAME


 

HANOVER CENTRAL TOURNAMENT
(Wildcat Winter Classic)
DATE GM SCHEDULE (CENTRAL TIME) SITE ROUND
Dec. 22 1 Washington Twp. at Hanover Central, 11 a.m. Hanover West First round
Dec. 22 2 Lowell vs. Knox, 11 a.m. Hanover East First round
Dec. 22 3 Griffith vs. Crown Point, 12:30 pm Hanover West First round
Dec. 22 4 Whiting vs. Hobart, 12:30 pm Hanover East First round
Dec. 22 5 Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6 pm Hanover East Consolation
Dec. 22 6 Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 7:30 pm Hanover East Consolation
Dec. 22 7 Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 pm Hanover West Semifinal
Dec. 22 8 Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 7:30 pm Hanover West Semifinal
Dec. 23 10 Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 6 pm Hanover East 7th place
Dec. 23 11 Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 7:30 pm Hanover East 5th place
Dec. 23 9 Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 6 pm Hanover West 3rd place
Dec. 23 12 Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:30 pm Hanover West Championship