GRANDVILLE — It took a quarter for Hart of Monday's regional semifinal game against Parchment to adjust to the Panthers' slash-and-kick style of offense. However, once the Pirates had their feet under them, the results were remarkable.
Hart took over the game in the second and third quarters of play, turning a close game into a runaway and rolling to a 67-34 win that earned the Pirates a rematch with Kent City in Wednesday's regional final. The Eagles edged Hart 64-58 in January.
It didn't look early like the Pirates (15-9) would cruise to the win. Parchment took a 6-0 lead early in the game and held that lead for most of the first quarter. It wasn't until the final minute of the quarter that the Pirates took the lead for good, 14-12.
Hart coach Ron Williamson wasn't pleased with the team's defense early on, saying it was too passive, but after the Pirates kicked up the energy on that side of the ball, things changed in a big way. Hart showcased its impressive athleticism and good team defense, frustrating Parchment into turnovers that made it easy for the Pirates to get out on the fast break.
Hart's Ava Johnson (0) and Macy Riley defend Parchment's Taylor McKinney during Monday's regional semifinal game at Calvin Christian. The Pirates' defense dominated much of the game in a 69-34 win.
"We
want to trap and we want to rotate well," Hart junior guard Rilynn Porter said. "We have a lot of different
defenses we run. Pressure, and help-side (defense) is our biggest thing,
and we've got to put pressure on the ball in order to win."
Once on the move, Hart further showed off its impressive passing, as many a fast break ended with a pretty pass to a teammate for an easy layup. Macy Riley and Natalie Rosema were common sights on the delivery end of those passes.
When the Pirates were in the half-court offense, they had little trouble dissecting the Parchment zone and getting wide open shots, and particularly for Porter, the team's most dangerous shooter. That helped her rack up 14 first-half points on her way to 24 for the game.
"I was just finding the open spots," Porter said. "My teammates were good at hitting me. Their zone was pretty
stretched out. So the second we penetrated, the open looks just came, and I just let it fly when I was open."
Hart's Reese Smith makes her way to the basket during Monday's regional semifinal against Parchment. The Pirates romped to a 69-34 win.
Hart's defensive efforts focused on Isabella Farrington, clearly the Panthers' best athlete. Farrington appeared hobbled at times by her right foot, and while she tied with teammate Amiyah Jackson for the team lead with 14 points, they only had four each in the second half as Hart built its lead. The Panthers seemed visibly frustrated as it became clear they had no answers for Hart's press-based attack.
"They're a team that likes to drive to the
basket and shoot threes, and when that stuff isn't working, it makes it a
rough night," Williamson said.
The Pirates will enter Wednesday's final with great confidence, with Porter saying the mindset every game is "to play like we're trying to go to state." Kent City is sure to be a challenge, and Williamson said the winner will likely be the team that stays in the moment.
"It's just a matter of, can we execute?" Williamson said. "And it's the same with Kent City. It doesn't
matter who you are this time of the year, whatever team executes the best is going to be the one that's successful."
