FORT WALTON BEACH – This wasn’t the way Holly McDaniel had it drawn up.
In preparation for district foe and rival Choctaw, which carried a 20-0 mark into Tuesday’s District 2-6A tilt, the Fort Walton Beach coach knew her team would not only have to bring its A-game, but also a tailor-made game plan to disrupt a team ranked third in the most recent FABC statewide poll.
“We knew we had to put a little more pressure on the basketball defensively,” she said, “and be aggressive with the ball, get to the paint and basket and post up when we had mismatches. We just wanted to work the ball around the perimeter and create the best shot”
Defensively, the Vikings followed through in forcing 19 turnovers. But offensively, McDaniel witnessed a unit that chose to live or die by the 3-pointer
Judging by the 3-for-21 effort from beyond the arc, McDaniel was not amused.
Brittany Brown scored a game-high 22 points, Lauren Day added a game-best 14 rebounds and the Indians held the Vikings to 19 percent shooting (9 for 47) in a 50-37 win.
View a photo gallery from the game >>
“Against them, a crosstown rival and district foe, you have to come out and play,” McDaniel said. “We didn’t. We weren’t intense and I’m just disappointed.”
The shooting woes had a lot to do with a stifling defensive effort from Choctaw (21-0, 6-0), which forced 20 turnovers, allowed only Katie O’Neal to reach double figures with 15 points and limited FWB (11-5, 4-2) to just four first-quarter points.
“Anytime we can beat Fort Walton, a crosstown rival and a district opponent, it’s a big win,” Choctaw coach Don Brown said. “I was real proud of the kids and their effort, especially on the defensive end. They really came together as a unit.”
Leading the lockdown defensive effort was Brittany Brown, who had seven steals and three blocks. A testament to the team’s united front defensively, the Florida State signee said that everyone’s carrying their weight.
“We’re trying to change our mindset this year as a defensive team and everybody’s producing,” she said.
Forcing FWB into off-balanced shots from the perimeter, consistently denying the entry pass and protecting the defensive board, Choctaw put on a defensive clinic in the first half. Unable to establish an inside threat, FWB went 0 for 11 from 3-point land and shot 3 for 25 from the floor.
Meanwhile, Brittany Brown was lighting the nets on fire. The senior guard shot 9 of 12 from the floor, including two treys, for 20 first-half points to lead the Indians into the locker room with a 29-15 lead.
“I was just feeling it,” she said.
Not feeling it was McDaniel, who said “We can’t come out in the first half like we did and expect to win or even be in the game.”
The Vikings, on the strength of O’Neal’s eight third-quarter points, reduced the lead to single digits at 37-28 late in the frame, but it wouldn’t get any closer.
After sitting the first half, Lakeisha Clay scored eight points in the final 16 minutes of play and Day wrapped up a nine-point effort with some key free throws down the stretch to seal the double-digit win.
Choctaw moves to 21-0 in district win over FWB (GALLERY)
Choctawhatchee's Brittany Brown, middle, steals the ball against Fort Walton Beach's Katie O'Neal, right, and Mercedes Clayborne.
NICK TOMECEK / Daily NewsPublished: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 20:41 PM.
FORT WALTON BEACH – This wasn’t the way Holly McDaniel had it drawn up.
In preparation for district foe and rival Choctaw, which carried a 20-0 mark into Tuesday’s District 2-6A tilt, the Fort Walton Beach coach knew her team would not only have to bring its A-game, but also a tailor-made game plan to disrupt a team ranked third in the most recent FABC statewide poll.
“We knew we had to put a little more pressure on the basketball defensively,” she said, “and be aggressive with the ball, get to the paint and basket and post up when we had mismatches. We just wanted to work the ball around the perimeter and create the best shot”
Defensively, the Vikings followed through in forcing 19 turnovers. But offensively, McDaniel witnessed a unit that chose to live or die by the 3-pointer
Judging by the 3-for-21 effort from beyond the arc, McDaniel was not amused.
Brittany Brown scored a game-high 22 points, Lauren Day added a game-best 14 rebounds and the Indians held the Vikings to 19 percent shooting (9 for 47) in a 50-37 win.
View a photo gallery from the game >>
“Against them, a crosstown rival and district foe, you have to come out and play,” McDaniel said. “We didn’t. We weren’t intense and I’m just disappointed.”
The shooting woes had a lot to do with a stifling defensive effort from Choctaw (21-0, 6-0), which forced 20 turnovers, allowed only Katie O’Neal to reach double figures with 15 points and limited FWB (11-5, 4-2) to just four first-quarter points.
“Anytime we can beat Fort Walton, a crosstown rival and a district opponent, it’s a big win,” Choctaw coach Don Brown said. “I was real proud of the kids and their effort, especially on the defensive end. They really came together as a unit.”
Leading the lockdown defensive effort was Brittany Brown, who had seven steals and three blocks. A testament to the team’s united front defensively, the Florida State signee said that everyone’s carrying their weight.
“We’re trying to change our mindset this year as a defensive team and everybody’s producing,” she said.
Forcing FWB into off-balanced shots from the perimeter, consistently denying the entry pass and protecting the defensive board, Choctaw put on a defensive clinic in the first half. Unable to establish an inside threat, FWB went 0 for 11 from 3-point land and shot 3 for 25 from the floor.
Meanwhile, Brittany Brown was lighting the nets on fire. The senior guard shot 9 of 12 from the floor, including two treys, for 20 first-half points to lead the Indians into the locker room with a 29-15 lead.
“I was just feeling it,” she said.
Not feeling it was McDaniel, who said “We can’t come out in the first half like we did and expect to win or even be in the game.”
The Vikings, on the strength of O’Neal’s eight third-quarter points, reduced the lead to single digits at 37-28 late in the frame, but it wouldn’t get any closer.
After sitting the first half, Lakeisha Clay scored eight points in the final 16 minutes of play and Day wrapped up a nine-point effort with some key free throws down the stretch to seal the double-digit win.
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