Spartans sweep doubleheader from Lancers

SHELBYVILLE — Edinburgh was looking to spoil homecoming in a girls-boys basketball doubleheader Friday night at Southwestern (Shelby).

Both teams came away empty-handed.

In the girls game, Edinburgh stayed even with Southwestern early, but a 12-0 Spartan run in the middle of the first quarter proved to be the difference in a 57-49 Lancers loss.

“There has always been one quarter or even a little four minute stretch that we have that’s bad,” Edinburgh girls coach Amy Schilling said. “We can’t have lapses, and we have to have intensity all the way through.”

The Lancers (7-13, 1-4) had trouble containing Spartan forward Emma Abel, who hit five 3-pointers, four of them in the first half, en route to a game-high 17 points.

“We talked about getting at (Abel) and having her put the ball on the floor,” Schilling said. “Our defense was there, but we had to find her first. We got to get the mentality that you just don’t find your man but you got to go where the shooters are.”

Edinburgh did have a mini comeback in the fourth quarter. The Lancers outscored Southwestern (12-8, 4-2) 15-7 to start the third quarter to cut it 54-49, but the Spartans converted at the foul line to seal it.

“These girls never give up, and some things don’t go our way and they just keep fighting,” Schilling said.

Allie Schooler and Sidney Beier led the Lancers with 13 points apiece. Destiney Ramey added 11.

In the boys game, Edinburgh was playing catch-up most of the game but trailed only 30-29 after a Bryce Burton 3-pointer. After a couple baskets made it 34-31, the Spartans were in the double bonus to put the game away.

They had trouble converting their free throws, and it left the door open for Edinburgh. But its shots could not fall through the net, and the Lancers were handed a 43-37 loss.

“They were 12 for 19 (from the line), and we were 5 for 11,” Edinburgh boys coach Drew Glentzer said. “Their ability to get to the free-throw line and make more and that truly was the difference in the game. We made a run to get back in it. We missed a few easy shots in the course of the game. We struggled offensively, but I was proud of us defensively.”

Southwestern (6-8, 3-0) had a 9-5 lead, but the Lancers (4-12, 1-3) gained the lead 12-11 after an Addison Lollar basket. It did not last long, and it was the final time that they led after the Spartans went on a 7-0 run to close the half.

Burton led Edinburgh with 15 points. Lollar added eight.

“I was happy for (Burton) because he has struggled a bit offensively,” Glentzer said. “This team is this way where it can be one guy’s night tomorrow night.”