Springboro rallies past host Alter

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12:22 AM Tuesday, January 24, 2012

By John Cummings

Contributing Writer

KETTERING — Springboro High School girls basketball coach Tom Benjamin wasn’t sure what to think heading into halftime Monday night at Alter.

“We looked like five parts going in five different directions,” Benjamin said after his squad entered the break down 34-23. “As much as we lacked any kind of chemistry, we were struggling offensively against a team that was ready to play.”

Benjamin found the words at halftime.

“He put us in our place,” senior Katie Schubert said after the Panthers rebounded for a 63-59 win over the Knights. “We came out and did exactly what we needed to do.”

The Panthers (13-1) switched to their 1-3-1 defense and forced the Knights into turnovers on their first two possessions, and a miss on their third. Jenny DeGraaf scored the first two baskets for the Panthers before Megan Graber drained a 3-pointer to get Springboro within four, 34-30, with less than 11/2 minutes off the clock.

“No matter what you say at halftime, the players have to believe in what you are saying,” Benjamin said. “And, they have to go out and get something done. To our credit, we played with some guts and stayed after it.”

The Panthers’ defense allowed the Knights (11-4) just five shots in the third quarter and forced seven turnovers, as they closed with a 8-0 run to head into the fourth trailing 41-40.

“They weren’t trying to trap, but their 1-3-1, with their length, makes it tough to get good looks,” said Alter coach Chris Hart, who remained on 399 career wins. “They packed that in, and it was tough to get looks. Then, they hit some big shots and got the momentum.”

Springboro tied it 46-all when Schubert recorded a steal in the backcourt and went in for an easy lay-up with 5:10 left. After another tie at 48, the Panthers went on a 11-2 run, capped by five straight points by Graber, to take a 59-50 lead with 1:27 left.

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