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February 16, 2003

Minnesota Deaf tops ISD in title game

From: Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, IA - 16 Feb 2003

FAIRBAULT, Minn. - The Iowa School for the Deaf girls played their usual brand of tough defense to hold a high-scoring Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf team to just five points in the entire first half, but MSAD came out hot in the second half to notch a 28-20 win over the Bobcats in the championship game of the Great Plains Schools for the Deaf Basketball Tournament Saturday.

"The kids played hard and they played real well," ISD coach Mike Shannon said. "We just had a little lapse, and it cost us."

The Bobcats played stifling defense in the early goings, holding No. 1 seed Minnesota Deaf to just two points in the opening stanza.

The second quarter went much the same, and although ISD couldn't muster much offense of its own, the Bobcats held a seven-point lead heading into intermission.

Minnesota Deaf quickly turned things around following the break however, outscoring the Bobcats 12-5 in the third quarter and 11-3 in the fourth to come back and steal the win.

"Defensively we played well, but they started hitting some shots in the second half and we didn't," Shannon said. "That and our free throw shooting (4-for-17 for the game) were the biggest differences."

The Bobcats had trouble on the glass following halftime as well, as they grabbed just nine rebounds in the second half compared to 24 in the first.

"We had a lull in the second half, and that happens," Shannon said. "Minnesota was the No. 1 seed though, and this was a lot closer ball game than the first two times we played them.

"The girls have nothing to gang their heads about," Shannon continued. "They worked real hard tonight and they should be proud."

Karen Ruckman scored eight points and swiped four steals, Katie Romey had five points and six rebounds and senior Sarah Brown, playing in her last game for the Bobcats, posted team-highs of 11 boards and three assists to go along with three points.

"Sarah has done a nice job this year," Shannon said. "We moved her to point guard and she led us in assists and she played excellent defense all season."

Minnesota Deaf 2 3 12 11 - 28

Iowa Deaf 9 3 5 3 - 20

Minnesota Deaf: Janna Erlandson 0, Charissa Hottle 10, Amy Siebert 4, Kim Erickson 0, Amanda Schahn 0, Brittany Ellenbecker 0, Stevie Williams 9, Jenna Rowan 0, Katie Meisel 0, Jenna Poehlmann 5.

Iowa Deaf: Liz Gramblin 0, Karen Ruckman 8 (4s), Jada Hart 2, Rachel Kill Small 0, Sarah Brown 3 (11r, 3a), Cassandra Case 2 (9r), Meredith Kasal 0, Erin Huntrods 0, Katie Romey 5 (6r).

Records: Minnesota (na), Iowa Deaf (13-6).

©Daily Nonpareil 2003