HUMBOLDT A flurry of 3-pointers from Humboldt High Maggie Johnson broke open a close game Thursday. Her teammates took it from there, keeping visiting Crest High at bay in the Lady Cubs 45-33 victory.
The win, coming in the second round of Humboldts preseason tournament, was the Lady Cubs first of the year.
Humboldt wraps up play in the Emprise Bank Preseason Tournament tonight against Erie. Tip-off is scheduled for about 6:30 p.m.
Johnsons connected three times from beyond the arc over a 3 ½ minute span in the second quarter, turning what had been a 9-9 deadlock into a 20-11 lead.
Maggie got it started, and then we started to play our game, Humboldt head coach Aubrey Jones said. Our last two games, we havent done what were capable of normally doing. My team finally showed up.
Humboldts cushion yoyoed between five and nine points through the third quarter before Crest mounted its final challenge of the night.
The Lady Lancers held Humboldt scoreless for more than 3 minutes, while Crests Rylee Beckmon sandwiched field goals around a pair of Cassie Bowen free throws. Beckmons baseline runner with 4:20 left in the game cut Humboldts lead to 35-32.
It turned out to be Crests final field goal of the night.
Humboldts Winter Snyder scored on a putback from a missed Maggie Johnson free throw, Aricah McCall followed with a steal, two free throws and a short jumper to push the lead to eight. Morgan Mauks free throws with 1:22 left put Humboldt on top by double digits for good.
We got a little bit away from what we were doing well in the fourth quarter, Jones said. Weve got kids ready to step in and play their roles. They know what they need to do. They did a great job of comign and taking care of the ball and making sure we still stayed in our sets.
Maggie Johnson led the way with 13 points all in teh first half. McCall battled early foul trouble, yet still managed to score 10. Six other Humboldt players scored.
Regan Godderz scored a game-high 14 to lead Crest, but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Beckmon followed with 13.
Two nights after hitting only 3 of 20 free throws in a loss to Uniontown, Humboldt cashed in on 14 of 20 charities against Crest.
It had to get better, Jones said. It couldnt get any worse.
Crest wraps up tournament play this afternoon in Humboldt against Uniontown.
Thursday
Crest (9-8-9-733) (FG/3pt): Strickler 0-2-2-2, Armstrong 0-1-2-1, R. Godderz 5/1-1-1-14, Holloran 1-1-1-3, Bowen 0-2-3-2, L. Godderz 0-0-3-0, Beckmon 3/1-2-4-12. TOTALS: 9/2-9-16-33.
