“No offense to anybody we’re playing, but it really comes down to us,” Badin coach Tom Sunderman said. “If we turn the ball over and don’t execute and don’t trust each other, we’re very average. But when we play together and execute the game plan, we’re hard to beat.
“We told the girls we’re as good as anybody in the region. If we can keep duplicating this right here, we could be playing for a couple more weeks.”
Olivia Keene and Emily Maher both put up career-best scoring totals for the fourth-seeded Rams (18-7), with Keene marking 10 points and Maher getting nine.
Badin, which has won eight of its last nine games, will travel to Springfield for a district final against West Liberty-Salem next Saturday. The time has yet to be announced.
“We’re surprised because we thought that it would be a little bit closer game, but I just think we kept pushing and pushing and never let down,” said Keene, a senior forward. “It feels great, and we can’t wait for the next game. We’re ready.”
Defense is the Rams’ staple, and it was a constant heat wave for a Madeira squad that simply couldn’t handle it.
The third-seeded Amazons (20-5) shot 15 percent from the floor — that’s 6 of 40 — and got beat 41-29 on the glass.
“It’s disheartening because we worked so hard all season,” Madeira coach Haley Warden said. “I think their pressure got to us, and even though we worked hard all week, it’s really hard to emulate what they do and how tough it is. And their physicality kind of bugged us. We just have to work on that and grow.”
Badin trailed 8-6 early in the second quarter. But the Rams scored 25 of the next 27 points.
“Not only were they playing great defense, when we did get by the defense, the shots weren’t going in,” Warden said. “That just makes you more frustrated and makes you want to foul and get out of your element. I try to harp on maintaining composure, but I understand they’re high school girls. Basketball is a fun sport, but it’s also a life lesson.
“It’s fun to play Badin because it’s always good competition. You’re always going to get a really tough fight, and I hope our girls see that and try to emulate what they do. I want our girls to play defense the way they got after us.”
Junior guard/forward Mary Englert led the Amazons with nine points, 12 below her average.
“Englert is probably the best player we’ve played all year, and she’s blue-collar,” Sunderman said. “At the beginning of the week, we had (Grace) Larkin on her, but we decided to go with Keene and put a blue-collar on a blue-collar. I thought Keene played the game of her life today.”
Shelby Nusbaum had six points, 11 rebounds and four assists for Badin, which limited its turnovers to 12. Lauren Krause added eight points, four boards and three assists, and Emma Broermann and Claire McCurley both tallied six points.
“It’s never just that one person who’s scoring every game,” Keene said. “We contribute all the way around. I think that’s why we’ll be a good team and get far.”
It’s been a tough couple days for Sunderman, who was in Cleveland for his wife’s grandfather’s funeral and flew home Saturday morning.
“I didn’t think I was going to be here,” Sunderman said. “Our assistant coaches did a phenomenal job of putting a great game plan together. Between them and the girls, they deserve all the credit. I’m just here to be a cheerleader.”
He’s looking forward to the district matchup with West Liberty-Salem, which knocked off Madison 54-39 on Saturday. The Tigers have just one loss this year.
“I think we’ve got a team that believes,” Sunderman said. “The biggest thing about today is not that we beat Madeira … it’s how we beat Madeira. That’s going to give the girls a lot of confidence and make them believe they can do well in Springfield.”
Madeira 6-4-5-9—24
Badin 6-14-15-14—49
MADEIRA (20-5): Emily Schilling 1 0 3, Molly Buzek 2 0 4, Marin Kline 0 2 2, Camryn Stallworth 2 1 5, Mary Englert 1 7 9, Madison Seaman 0 1 1. Totals: 6-11-24
BADIN (18-7): Shelby Nusbaum 3 0 6, Emily Maher 4 1 9, Grace Larkin 0 2 2, Lauren Krause 3 0 8, Olivia Keene 5 0 10, Macy Harper 1 0 2, Emma Broermann 3 0 6, Claire McCurley 2 2 6. Totals: 21-5-49
3-pointers: M 1 (Schilling), B 2 (Krause 2)
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
About the Author