PCA's Kristin Malcolm squares up for a jumper during Saturday's victory.

Caging the Cougars

Eagles' tough 'D' too
much for Lenawee

BY ED WRIGHT
Feb. 7, 2010, 11:30 a.m.

  At the end of the season, every basketball team can look at its schedule and circle games that meant more than others.

  For Plymouth Christian Academy girls basketball team, Saturday's 44-40 victory over Lenawee Christian will be deserving of a circle.

  And a smiley face.

  Playing perhaps their most complete game of the 2009-10 campaign, the Eagles knocked off a Cougars' contingent that was ranked among the top 10 teams in Class D earlier this season.

  They did it with the kind of defensive effort that makes coaches proud.

  "We played very good team defense," said PCA coach Carol Gerulis, whose squad improved to 6-9. "The girls communicated well. They're really starting to figure it out.

  "We had a couple of tough losses earlier this week against Southfield and Oakland. But I told them today that they can play with anybody."

  Sophomore Kristin Malcolm controlled the paint for the Eagles, compiling 13 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots. Junior Brianna Harris was superb around the perimeter, collecting 12 points and five assists.

  Junior Bethany Hale also sparkled for the winners, scoring eight points while grabbing seven rebounds.

  "Bethany really stepped up today," Gerulis said. "She started earlier in the season, but started to get fatigued, so she didn't play as much. The last three or four games she's been playing more and she's playing with a lot more confidence."

  Brooklyn Wingfield led the Cougars with 13 points. Heidi Stultz and Andrea Sebby added eight a piece.

  The Eagles' shot well from the opening tip, surging to a 19-13 first-quarter lead. The Cougars grabbed their first lead of the game, 22-21, with 1:50 left in the first half on a Wingfield steal and layup.

  PCA countered with a 5-1 run to end the half when Brooke Purcell hit a driving fast break layup and Malcolm converted an old-fashioned three-point play with just 0:02 showing on the clock.

  Lenawee's last lead of the contest came mid-way through the third quarter when a Sebby put-back gave the visitors a 28-27 advantage. But PCA closed the quarter with an 8-0 burst -- Hale and Harris connected on long threes while Malcolm banked in a fast-break layup -- to take control, 35-28.
 
  Hale's biggest bucket of the afternoon came with 24 seconds to play when she buried an 18-footer to extend the Eagles' lead to 44-39.

  Le Ann Porter hit one of two free throws for Lenawee with 16.1 seconds to play to close the scoring.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info @plymouthcantonsports.com.