Published: November 18, 2008 08:46 am         

Steamers fall short in opener

GENESEO, Ill. — Add a few points and take away a few turnovers, and there was little more Amanda Abbott would have wanted to see from Fulton High School girls basketball team after its first half of the season Monday night.

Things looked even better after the Steamers’ first six possessions of the second half. That might have been the time to pack up and head home, though, as Annawan, the ninth-ranked team in the first Illinois Class 1A state rankings of the year, took off from there and handed the Steamers a 51-35 loss in the opening game of the Temple’s Tip-Off Classic at Geneseo High School.

“I saw a lot of good things,” Abbott said. “I’m very optimistic about this team. There’s some potential to win some ballgames if we click for all four quarters.”

Unfortunately for Fulton, the clicking ended a couple of minutes into the third quarter. Fulton went to the free-throw line on four of its first five possessions of the second half, then pulled within 29-23 on a jump shot by Kelsey Munck from the right side with 5 minutes, 44 seconds, remaining.

Then, the Braves turned up their intensity, and the Steamers lost theirs, even with Annawan’s standout player, Kelly Buresh, riding the bench in foul trouble.

After a free throw by Jordan Jackson put Annawan ahead 30-23, Aron Jackson scored five points in a 52-second span while the Steamers were in their turnover funk, and the Braves closed the quarter with a 12-0 run to take command.

“I was wondering where our intensity went,” Abbott said. “We made mistakes, and they capitalized. It wasn’t pressure. I think we had a mental breakdown.”

Lapses are one thing that Abbott fears early this season, with four juniors in the starting lineup.

“Part of it is a lack of experience,” she said.

But, she also is filled with hope, especially after watching her team play well at times Monday.

The Steamers led twice early and tied the game for a final time, 13-13, on Jenn Smith’s short basket with 4:47 left in the first half. It was set up by one of Munck’s game-high seven rebounds, an offensive board that she followed with an assist to Smith. A basket by Chloe VanOpdorp put Annawan ahead to stay and started a 12-4 run to end the first half.

The Steamers also had some success bottling up Buresh, a 6-foot junior who is one of the top small-school players in the region.

“We stressed that we had to contain her; that’s why the score was what it was,” said Abbott, who had Sabrina Rock apply tight defense on Buresh from the start.

Buresh finished with a game-high 23 points, but she made a 3-point basket to close the third quarter and then scored all 10 of Annawan’s points in the fourth quarter.

Fulton plays Geneseo at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

FULTON (0-1) — Kayla Anglese 0-4 1-4 1, Erica Bielema 0-2 0-0 0, Rachel Harris 2-8 0-2 5, Lindsey Renkes 1-3 5-6 7, Kelsey Munck 1-4 0-0 2, Kim Rogis 3-9 2-3 8, Liz Sanquist 1-1 2-2 4, Sabrina Rock 0-0 3-4 3, Kelly Holland 0-0 0-0 0, Elaina Raab 1-2 0-0 2, Jenn Smith 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 10-35 14-23 35.

ANNAWAN (1-0) — Aron Jackson 4-13 1-2 9, Justine Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Katie Koning 2-6 0-0 5, Dani Rosebeck 0-1 0-1 0, Chloe VanOpdorp 1-3 0-0 2, Alecia Wilson 1-4 0-2 3, Lauren Spivey 2-4 0-0 4, Kelly Buresh 9-18 4-6 23, Jordan Jackson 2-4 1-2 5. Totals 21-53 6-13 51.

Fulton 8 9 6 12 — 35

Annawan 10 15 16 10 — 51

3-point goals — Fulton 1-3 (Harris 1-1, Anglese 0-1, Rogis 0-1); Annawan 3-13 (Koning 1-2, Buresh 1-2, Wilson 1-4, A. Jackson 0-5). Total fouls — Fulton 16; Annawan 18. Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Fulton 37 (Munck 7, Smith 6); Annawan 36 (J. Jackson 6). Assists — Fulton 3 (Anglese 2); Annawan 10 (Wilson 4). Steals — Fulton 11 (Rogis 4); Annawan 16 (Four players with 3). Blocked shots — Annawan 3 (A. Jackson, Buresh, J. Jackson). Turnovers — Fulton 33; Annawan 18.

     

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