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Cottey's comeback falls short
By Jason Peake
Daily Mail Sports Editor
NEVADA-- A spirited second-half rally fell just short for the Cottey College basketball team on Tuesday night, as a poor first half was too much to overcome.
The Ottawa University JV team held on late for a 62-58 win over Cottey at Hinkhouse Gymnasium.
Ottawa led by 20 points in the first half, only to see the Comets get within one late in the game. But in crunch time, the visiting Braves pulled out the victory.
"You can't spot a team 20 points in the first half and expect to come back," Cottey Coach Dave Ketterman said. "Our kids did come back. It was too little, too late. You just can't put yourself in that position and expect to win."
The first half was one to forget for the hosts. Offensively, the Comets missed several chippies inside, turned the ball over 13 times, looked out of sync overall and managed just 21 points before halftime. On the other end, Ottawa's JV team knocked down six three-pointers in the first half, led by 20 at 34-14 and took a commanding 37-21 lead into the break.
"The first half was pretty lackluster," Ketterman said. "We had point-blank shots we just didn't finish. We weren't ready to play. We had 13 first-half turnovers and I can't think of a single forced one. We were careless with the basketball."
Ketterman wasn't pleased with his team's defense, either.
"We knew they could all shoot it," Ketterman noted. "We told the girls that. The girls have to execute."
At the same time, Ketterman gave credit to Ottawa's six JV players who took the court on Tuesday.
"They're JV players, but they're scholarship kids," Ketterman said. "They play against NAIA D-I players every day and they were ready to play. They played well."
By the time halftime arrived, Cottey had 21 points in 20 minutes of action and trailed by 16.
The Comets looked like a different team in the second half, though.
Cottey got some shots to fall, forced some turnovers and cut into the lead.
Hoops from Chelsey Rowland, Bailey Braden, Blaklee Sanders and Santana Cruz cut Ottawa's lead to single digits. Jordan Davidson's trey with 7:44 to play made it 52-46 in favor of Ottawa.
After consecutive Ottawa turnovers, Rowland hit a short jumper to cut the lead down to four.
Next, Ottawa scored five of the next seven to keep the lead with just over two minutes to play.
But Davidson hit another three and the Comets were only down four.
After an Ottawa miss and a timeout, Cruz scored inside on an out of bounds play and drew a foul. The second-year forward hit the free throw for the old-fashioned three-point play and Cottey was down 57-56 with one minute to go.
But in what turned out to be the play of the game, Ottawa's Sarah Wiesner hit a clutch three-pointer with 40 seconds left to make it a four-point game.
Cottey missed a three on the other end and had to foul. Ottawa's Sarah Neptune hit both foul shots and it was 62-56 with 30 seconds left.
Cottey missed another from behind the arc and had to foul again. Ottawa's Jessica Christman missed the front end of the one-and-one, and Davidson scored on a drive to the hoop with six seconds to play.
After a timeout, Ottawa was able to get the ball inbounds and run out the clock to secure the win.
Cottey falls to 6-7 on the season with the loss.
A 5-11 forward, Braden scored 12 points and pulled down 17 rebounds to lead Cottey. The team's second-year point guard, Davidson scored 12, while Cruz added 11 points and six assists.
Coach Ketterman said he was disappointed in Tuesday's loss, especially after a nice win at Hesston on Saturday.
"We played well in all phases in that one," he said.
Notes: Cottey hadn't played at home since Jan. 6. Cottey travels to Penn Valley on Friday night. The Comets will host North Central College on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. That game will be the first of three-straight home dates. Also, Cottey has six home games in February.
Ottawa JV 62, Cottey 58
Cottey: Bailey Braden 12, Kylie Eldredge 3, Jordan Davidson 12, Santana Cruz 11, Petra Stankovic 4, Blaklee Sanders 8, Chelsey Rowland 8. Totals 19 (5) 5-8 58. Three-pointers: Davidson 2, Rowland 2, Eldredge 1.
Ottawa JV: Wiesner 12, Christman 23, Jeannin 4, Neptune 5, Shaffer 12, Hoyt 4. Three-pointers: Wiesner 4, Shaffer 3.