Burlington downs Elgin in debuts for Smith, Bumbales
Limiting turnovers and playing solid defense are at the core of any good basketball program.
If the Burlington Central girls team can continue to master those two elements as it did in it season opener against Elgin Tuesday night, the Rockets could be in for a successful season under first-year coach Stephanie Smith.
The Rockets committed just 21 turnovers a relatively low number for a season opener - while their defense helped cause Elgin 33 miscues and a scoreless third quarter as BC came away with a 48-23 nonconference win.
Six-foot-two junior Ali Settanni had 10 points and 4 blocks to lead Central, while senior guard and 6-0 sophomore Brenda Thasavong (7 rebounds) added 9 points each and senior Jordan Maisto spearheaded the defense with 9 steals while also dishing out 7 assists.
"They worked hard and once they got comfortable out there and slowed it down it was good," said Smith, the former Hampshire and NIU star whose former Hampshire coach Milt Awe was in attendance Tuesday.
"Right now we're building confidence and as long as everyone contributes and we have that positive atmosphere, the outcome is going to be a win."
The Rockets jumped to a 10-4 lead after one quarter behind 6 of Settanni's points. She scored again early in the second quarter as BC burned Elgin's defense on several backdoor plays.
"Defensively we got beat on a lot of back doors," said first-year Elgin coach Dr. Nick Bumbales. "We weren't prepared for that. The players win games and the coaches lose them and this one's on me. (Burlington) has a new coach and a new system and that's one thing we didn't prepare for."
Said Smith: "Our post players ran it well and the wings saw it well."
Central was able to widen its lead to 24-15 by halftime and the Rockets showed some depth doing so, with Thasavong coming off the bench to score 4 points. Senior Taylor Colby, who was in foul trouble much of the night, scored 4 of her 6 points in the second quarter as well.
The Rockets put the game away in the third quarter by pitching a 13-0 shutout. McNutt scored 4 of her points in the quarter while Elgin missed all 5 of its field goal attempts and committed 12 turnovers.
For the game, Central shot 15-for-49 and made 18 of its 30 free throw attempts. Elgin was just 8 of 41 on its field goal attempts and 6 of 15 from the line.
Senior Brandi Hernandez led the Maroons with 8 points and senior Abbey Houde added 6.
"We hustled and I thought Brandi did a nice job of handling the basketball considering the pressure she was under," said Bumbales, whose team plays in the Geneva tournament this weekend.
"Doc had his girls playing hard and playing tough all night and I like that," said Smith, whose squad hosts its own Thanksgiving tournament and plays Lisle in the first round on Thursday.