Lauren Barker
Columbus North had chances to take a lead against Class 4A co-No. 10 Lawrence North throughout the first half Saturday afternoon, but couldn’t get a few layups to fall.
In the second half, the Bull Dogs converted at a higher rate and took control of the game on their way to a 48-37 girls basketball upset, their fifth win in a row.
“That’s exactly what we talked about at halftime — that we don’t necessarily have to change what we’re doing because we’re getting the shots that we want,” junior guard Lauren Barker said. “It was just a matter of finishing around the rim. I was more concerned with defensively keeping them out of transition, and we were able to do that in the second half, and to me, that was really the difference in the game.”
Barker, who scored a game-high 20 points, has been transitioned into taking over most of the point guard duties the past two games after Emma Long sustained a broken elbow in a win at New Albany. Long is out four to six weeks.
“I just try to be one of those players that is willing to play any role that the coach asks me to play,” Barker said. “I enjoy having the ball in my hands. I like creating for my teammates, and I think we did really good stepping up as a team and doing our part. “
“We had to have Lauren handle the basketball for us a little bit more, but we also had some others come in,” Bull Dogs coach Brett White added. “Rylie Boezeman I thought came in and gave us some solid minutes at the point. Kylah (Lawson) has even handled the basketball for us some. It’s a little bit by committee right now. We haven’t necessarily changed what we do. We just have to learn some new spots.”
The Wildcats (5-4) led 12-11 after one quarter. The second quarter then featured eight lead changes and three ties, with neither team leading by more than three points. Lawrence North led 26-25 at the break.
Columbus North (5-2) scored the first six points of the second half and outscored the Wildcats 13-4 in the third quarter to take a 38-30 lead. The Bull Dogs led by as many as 13 with two minutes left in the game.
“Anytime you can beat a team of their caliber, we have to be happy,” White said. ‘They were down two starters, so they weren’t full strength, but we’re down, as well. You still have to line them up 5-on-5, and we competed very well today.”
Columbus North held Lawrence North 20 points below its average of 57 a game.
“We knew that they were a quick team and wanted to get transition baskets,” Barker said. “But I think we did a pretty good job of getting back and locking in on defense. We just never gave in. We played hard all four quarters, and I think that’s what gave us the win.”
Lawson finished with nine points and eight rebounds, and Andrea Justis had eight points and eight rebounds for the Bull Dogs. Kayla Jones added five points and seven rebounds for Columbus North, which outrebounded the Wildcats 35-24.
“They’re a really good team, and we knew that they were going to be tough,” Lawson said. “We have a player down, Emma, but I think we came out really strong, knowing that she was going to be out, and we just built each other up and played our hardest. I think we were just going after the boards really well.”
