Win puts girls at 10-5 in conference, 14-7 overall
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
There really isn’t any magical formula to success for the Big Foot girls basketball team.
It starts with pressure defense and ends with a fast-paced offense – and the proof that it works is right there for everyone to see.
Big Foot played that recipe to perfection again Friday night with a dominating 58-38 Rock Valley Conference win over visiting Beloit Turner.
The victory improved the Chiefs to 14-7 overall and 10-5 in conference play heading into their regular-season finale Thursday night against visiting Palmyra-Eagle.
Big Foot led 21-7 after the first quarter and never looked back.
“As usual, we came out fast and pushed the ball hard in transition offense,” Big Foot coach Rick Schoenbeck said. “We are a very fast team that moves the ball well and always keeps pressure on the opponent’s offense, especially in transition where you have the highest percentage to score.
“Our trapping defense forced them into turnovers and easy scores. My starting five are playing well together and produce good results on both ends of the floor.”
Turner trimmed one point off the lead by halftime but the Chiefs outscored the visitors 23-16 the last 16 minutes to put the game out of reach.
Courtney Schoenbeck led the way with 15 points and six rebounds, followed by Megan Courier with 12 points and six assists and Payton Courier with nine points and five rebounds. Carly Snudden chipped in with six rebounds.
Both Schoenbeck and Payton Courier, two freshmen, continue to improve daily, Rick Schoenbeck said.
“(They) are the key difference from last year,” he said. “I am extremely lucky to coach these two girls who play well together and are very talented at basketball. I have tremendous respect and confidence in their play.
“Both have matured a lot on and off the court. This is a long season and a grind with basketball six days a week. Both girls have adapted to the physical play from older girls and the strength difference. These two play a different style, but know their roles.”
The win clinched a second-place finish in the RVC South, quite the step up from a year ago when the Chiefs won just five games on the varsity level.
As a program, Big Foot enters the final week with 32 victories, compared to just six a year ago.
“I am happy we have created a winning team and program,” Schoenbeck said. “This is just the start. I felt we could win the RVC South, but Brodhead’s experience and high-quality shooting was more than we could handle this year.
“It will keep us hungry to strive for that title next year. … We are young. We start two freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors. With more time playing basketball and these girls getting stronger, we will be strong for several years.”
