Full-court pressure, trapping leads to forced turnovers
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
A stingy, aggressive defense has been the Big Foot girls basketball team’s calling card in recent seasons.
That’s showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Big Foot forced visiting Wilmot into 28 turnovers that led to 25 points in a 69-54 non-conference victory last Tuesday afternoon. The win improved the Chiefs to 7-3 overall.
“We win with defense,” Big Foot coach Rick Schoenbeck said. “Our defense obviously leads to our offense. Our full- and half-court defense has been coming together as a team.
“The full-court pressure all game takes a toll on teams that are not used to playing that fast the entire game. … Defensively, we kept the full-court pressure on them and wore them down as we have done all year.”
Big Foot, which has forced its last four opponents to commit at least 24 turnovers, also held Wilmot to just five inside baskets for the game.
The Chiefs led 36-31 at halftime, but pulled away in the second half on the strength of a 33-23 advantage.
That difference goes right back to what else? The defense, Schoenbeck said.
“We wore them down,” he said. “Their offense was not effective versus our defense, and the smaller guards struggled with our trapping defense.
“They had to extend their half-court defense to try and catch up, and it played into our hands and allowed us to slash to the basket for high percentage, uncontested shots.”
Payton Courier led the Chiefs with 13 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Olivia Briggs with 13 points and five rebounds and Brooke Wellhausen with 13 points and four assists. Zanzie Demco chipped in with 12 points.
For the game, the Chiefs shot 55 percent from the field (29-of-52), while Wilmot was just 31 percent (14-of-45).
“(We forced) Wilmot to shoot quick, poor quality, long-distance shots, which become fast breaks off the long rebound,” Schoenbeck said. “The fast break points come with great outlet passes and then our speed and spacing getting down the floor.
“(It was a) total team effort. With the fast break opportunities and the five inbounds plays we scored on, (that) all led to our high-percentage shooting.”
A victory over a quality program like Wilmot also can’t be overlooked, Schoenbeck said.
“I was very happy with the way our team played,” he said. “To handle a program like Wilmot the way we did was great for my girls’ confidence.
“We are playing my style of basketball, which is fast-paced, in-your-face defense, followed by great passing and teamwork to score.”
Big Foot took a 4-1 Rock Valley Conference record into a road game Thursday night at Edgerton. The Chiefs entered the contest tied on top of the standings with Clinton, followed by Beloit Turner at 3-3.
With the holidays now complete, the importance of each game will be magnified from here on out, Schoenbeck said.
And there’s still plenty of work to do.
“Staying healthy and not getting into foul trouble are two very important areas to be concerned with,” he said. “Furthermore, we play fast and aggressive, but have been very sloppy with too many fouls and turnovers.
“We need to clean those areas up, especially in tight games against very good teams.”
