Too many misses for Lady Coalers

    The Coal City varsity girls basketball team failed to convert their opportunities inside the paint Thursday night, during a 43-23 loss to Sandwich.
    While Coal City (4-7 overall, 2-2 conference) only hit two of their 20 shots from inside, they were able to stay in the game thanks to a 31.3 shooting percentage from the perimeter, accounting for 15 of the team’s points.
    The Lady Coalers managed their biggest quarter in the first, as they recorded 11 points, but still trailed the Indians, 16-11.
    Down the stretch, offense would take a back seat, as they were outpaced in the second, third and fourth, getting outscored, 8-4, 11-5, and 8-3, respectively.
    The outcome resulted in Coal City’s second conference loss of the season, as they were bumped to .500 (2-2).
    Makenna Crater led CCHS with nine points, hitting three treys. She was followed by Brooke Chapman with an eight-point performance, as she hit two trey’s and went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.
    Bridget Kauzlaric chipped in four points, and Lindsay Stopka added two to the Lady Coalers’ effort.
    Coal City will resume conference action on Thursday, when they return home for a game against Westmont.
Morris 49,
Coal City 40
    Slow starts to the first and fourth quarters hurt the Lady Coalers.
    Coal City was outscored 23-14 in the first half but had a gallant effort in the third quarter to stay within striking distance. They trailed, 32-29 heading into the fourth.
    Unfortunately, Morris wound up putting the game away in the final frame, outscoring Coal City, 17-11.
    The true tale of the game was Coal City’s shooting inside the arc. The Lady Coalers hit only seven of their 28 two-point shots, ending with a better percentage from three-point range (38.5%).
    Kauzlaric struggled from inside, going 0-for-7, but wound up leading the team with 10 points. She went 7-for-10 from the free-throw line, and also hit a three-pointer.
    Helen Onsen followed with nine points, and Crater added two treys and one jumper for eight points.
    Chapman secured seven points, and commanded the boards all night with 14 rebounds.
    Stopka and Madison Emerson rounded out the offense with four and two points, respectively.