Coach says putting other team on free-throw line a problem
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The Big Foot girls basketball team is getting closer.
For all of three quarters Tuesday night, the Chiefs hung right with perennial Rock Valley Conference powerhouse Brodhead-Juda.
But it was a 15-8 deficit in the third quarter that made the difference, and that was just too much to overcome in a 66-54 setback.
The loss dropped Big Foot to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the RVC.
“We competed well,” Big Foot coach Rick Schoenbeck said. “There’s areas we have to improve on. One of the problems is we’re putting the other team on the free-throw line too much.”
Schoenbeck said the issue is twofold – his team wants to play pressure defense, and the officials are calling things tighter after a rule change that went into effect this year.
The adjustment period continues, he added.
“We’re obviously putting ourselves into a situation where we foul a little more because of the hustle and the intensity of the pressure. We have to make some changes with the rule.”
Brodhead used a zone defense in the key third quarter to slow down the Chiefs, and that approach worked, Schoenbeck said.
“They spread it out (with a 1-2-2 zone) and made shots,” he said. “That was the difference in that quarter.”
Big Foot trailed by just four points at halftime, but the 35-31 score would have been much different if the Chiefs had converted near the basket, Schoenbeck said.
Unofficially, Big Foot missed 12 shots from close range in the first two quarters and 15 for the game.
“We were being challenged, but within three feet of the basket, we have to make those,” he said. “That’s opportunities to get the lead.
“Maybe we’re not used to winning yet and we just have to close it out. That’s an area where we’re struggling.”
One highlight came from a pair of freshmen, Payton Courier and Courtney Schoenbeck, who led the Chiefs with 19 and nine points, respectively.
Courier, who was plagued by foul trouble throughout the game, also added six rebounds, while Schoenbeck had five.
“Actually, I don’t think we’re seeing the best of them yet,” he said. “They’re still adjusting to the speed and the size (of varsity competition) and adjusting to playing with these girls. I think by the end of the season, you’ll see those two rise up even more.”
Morgan Courier added seven points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists, while Olivia Briggs had three steals.
Big Foot is back in action Friday night when it travels to Jefferson for a RVC matchup. The Eagles improved to 2-2 overall with 43-26 win Tuesday night over East Troy.
Even in the loss against Brodhead, there are plenty of reasons for optimism, Schoenbeck said.
“I love our defense to an extent,” he said. “The situation with fouls has to change. We had nine girls score, so we had contributions up and down the lineup.
“We just have to get it put together. We had too many breakdowns, so we have correct some of those mistakes on defense.”
