Scott Keyes
Sports Scene
It’s no secret that the Nouvel Catholic Central girls basketball team never shies away from any opponent.
This year is no different.
After starting off the season 4-0, Nouvel went through an eight-game stretch that saw them lose to Reese, the No. 1-ranked team in Class C, but bounce back nicely and earn victories over the likes of Dearborn Divine Child, Grand Rapids West Catholic, Valley Lutheran, Hemlock, Haslett, Saginaw, and an upset victory over Freeland.
Still on the Panthers’ schedule are games with Sacred Heart Academy, Midland, a tough John Glenn team, and Class D powerhouse Our Lady of the Lakes, just to name a few.
Needless to say, coach Kris Hengesbach expects this tough schedule to aid the Panthers in their quest to make a long tournament run in March.
“This is nothing new here,” Hengesbach said. “We feel the tough schedule is only going to make us a better team and tested once districts begin.”
Playing a tough schedule is one thing, but some people have described the team’s schedule as downright brutal. And to be 11-1 prior to press time is a testament to what the coaching staff has done to prepare the Panthers for this tough stretch of the season.
From a battle against Haslett, to a come-from-behind win against Valley Lutheran, to a tough victory over Saginaw, to pulling off an upset of Freeland, Hengesbach has watched the Panthers adapt and overcome on both ends of the court.
“We are playing tough games every time we hit the floor,” Hengesbach said. “You can’t take anyone lightly, especially at this point in the season.”
Against Freeland, Nouvel put down the clamps defensively and pulled off its biggest win of the season thus far. It used a combination of solid defense and timely shooting to take down previously unbeaten Freeland 58-47.
Nouvel’s Rachel McInerney scored a team-high 19 points with a game-high 18 rebounds, while teammate Taylor Hengesbach added 17 points and seven rebounds. Michigan State bound Tori Jankoska scored 28 points to lead Freeland. Jankoska also had seven rebounds and three steals, while Paige Brown had six points, five rebounds, and four steals. Tara Padgett added three assists, while Taryn Taugher had six boards.
Hengesbach said her team knew Jankoska was going to get her points, but holding the rest of the team to under 20 percent shooting was the difference in the game.
“Our defense was tremendous,” Hengesbach said. “This was a great victory for us, but now it’s back to work.”