Lancers lose close one to Knightstown

Scoring more was the goal of Edinburgh girls basketball coach Amy Macy said after the Lancers opening-game loss to Franklin in the Johnson County Tournament last week.

The Lancers did exactly that, scoring a season-high, but unfortunately visiting Knightstown scored more as the Panthers took a 59-50 win against Edinburgh in the Mid-Hoosier Conference opener for the Lancers on Tuesday night.

“We did a better job of scoring, but we still have to take care of the basketball,” Macy said. “The girls kept fighting and didn’t give up.”

Knightstown, a Class 2A program, was the first Lancer opponent that wasn’t a Class 3A or 4A school, but early in the first half, they played like a larger school by jumping out to a 19 point lead.

This was in part due to the Panthers being assertive in the lane and getting extra chances at the basket thanks to their rebounding.

That was the story of the first half before the Lancers found some aggressiveness within themselves and slowly whittled away at the lead.

In fact, the Lancers came within three points of the lead with more than four minutes to go in the third quarter.

However, that was as close as the Lancers could get as fouls, missed opportunities, turnovers and some patient playmaking by Knightstown saw the lead slowly increase.

“When we were that close, that’s when we should have taken advantage,” said Macy. “We had to keep attacking and we didn’t. I think that because this was our first close game of the season, we let up a bit. The girls are still learning.”

Edinburgh is learning fast, but it’s coming at a cost as the Lancers dropped to 0-5 on the season and 0-1 in the Mid-Hoosier Conference.

It was also the sixth straight loss for Edinburgh dating back to last year, but this team has improved as evidenced by last year’s 42 point loss to the Panthers.

Sophomore guard Vanessa Hoskins led the Lancers with 15 points. Fellow sophomore Allie Schooler added 12, while junior Mariah Weddle had 10, the first time all year the Lancers had three players in double-figures.

Weddle also pulled down nine rebounds.

The Panthers (5-3, 2-2 Mid-Hoosier) was led by Kori Biehl’s 17 points.

“What we need is to put together a full game,” Macy said. “We have our points, but what I’d like to see now is at least 70 shots a game. We’re working on it.”

Up next for the Lancers is Class 3A Beech Grove at Edinburgh on Thursday night.