Cardinals benefit from Willows' charity

Charity began at home for Corning High's girls basketball team Tuesday, and unfortunately for visiting Willows, the Honkers found themselves in the giving spirit.

Entering the fourth quarter trailing 27-26, Corning drew a foul at the 7:51 mark that put them into the bonus for the remainder of the game, and six points from the free-throw line down the stretch were enough to make the difference in a 37-32 Cardinals' victory.

With Willows in foul trouble, they were forced to hold back slightly on defense, giving the Cardinals' better looks at the basket, a factor that did not go unnoticed by Corning coach Kurt Eller.

"We started knocking them down and we got that separation," the coach said. "We never backed down. If somebody got a shot blocked the girls still attacked."

In the final period, the Honkers added to their one-point lead with an Ally Brunner free throw, but Corning's Rachel Bentz then connected on a pair from the stripe to draw even at 28-28 with 6:06 remaining.

Marisa Vinson hit the front end of a pair of one-and-one opportunities, but a lay-in by Megan Hughes tied it at 30-30. The Cardinals rattled off the next six points, with Keara Terras hitting from the top of the key, and Vinson drawing net from behind the arch for a trey.

With 2:00 remaining, Hughes picked up her fifth foul and Vinson put in another freebie to make it 36-30.

Shyanne Petty made a pivotal steal for the Cardinals with 34 seconds to go, and after Vinson was fouled with 20 seconds on the clock, she dropped the last of her 11 points - sharing the team-lead in scoring with freshman Gates Fears.

Colleen Tade, who finished with seven points, four rebounds and three blocked shots, fouled out in the closing seconds.

Willows coach Steve Ebell remained optimistic after the opening loss, which came after his squad had only taken part in one full practice, due to the success of its volleyball team, many of whom also play basketball.

"I'm very proud of them. They played well, and despite only practicing together once before their first game, they came together," the coach said.

"You will see their return to form in upcoming games, I have no doubt they will do great things this season," Ebell added.

The free throw was anything but Corning's friend to begin the game, as Corning was 0-of-4 from the line in the first quarter, as Willows took a 12-9 lead.

Tade nailed a 3-pointer in the second period, but Chelsea Dale answered it for the Cardinals, and both sides went into halftime with the score knotted at 20-20.

The third quarter was the lowest scoring of them all, with the Honkers seven points coming from another Tade trey, a hoop by Courtney Dicharry, and Brunner completing a fast break. Corning used a pair of free throws, a Fears bucket up close and a turnaround jumper by Vinson to stay within one.

"Our rebounding is probably what won that game," Eller remarked. "We gave up only two offensive rebounds in the first half to a very athletic team."

Brunner paced Willows (0-1) with nine points, and Maira Jaramillo added five. Brunner also posted highs with nine rebounds and four blocks.

Corning (1-0) and the Honkers are both on the court in the weekend's Live Oak Tourney.

CONTACT Craig Purcell at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.