Taylor Hengesbach enjoyed playing for her mother, and Kris Hengesbach liked coaching her daughter.
Both would have preferred holding a Class C state trophy together.
But the Nouvel Catholic Central coach and her daughter, a senior forward, weren’t able to do that after Manchester pulled off a 57-52 win in the Class C state final game.
Nouvel led by 12 points in the first quarter, but the Flying Dutch came back to trail only 22-18 at halftime and had scoring advantages of 17-10 and 22-20 in the third and fourth quarters.
“Offensively we struggled and didn’t execute the way we did in that first quarter for whatever reason,” said Kris Hengesbach. “We just lost that flow in our offense. They made some big 3-point shots.”
Taylor Hengesbach led Nouvel with 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. The Panthers ended the year at 25-3.
Kris Hengesbach hugged her daughter after the game and fought back tears while telling reporters what she said to Taylor.
“I told her she played a helluva game, and she left it all on the floor and she should be proud of it,” Kris Hengesbach said.
“We came through a lot this season and we’re really close,” Taylor said. “Our student body is close. I know they’re proud of us.”
On playing for her mother, Nouvel’s coach for the past 12 years, “it’s something to adjust to at first, but I wouldn’t ask for anything else,” Taylor said. “It’s very special. I grew up in the gyms with all of her teams over the years. In 2003, when they were runner-up and then in 2006 and 2008 when they won it, I was on the bench and in the gym. My basketball comes from that.”
McKenna Erkfritz paced the champs with 22 points and 11 boards.
Kris Hengesbach gave Manchester credit for picking up the tempo and attacking the basket.
“It was their defense,“ she said “They were confusing us on defense, I guess, and we were not executing. I thought that was the big difference. If they got to the basket, they’re making their free throws.”
Nouvel shot 44.2 percent from the floor compared to 39.1 percent for Manchester, which had a 35-28 advantage on the boards. In free throws, Nouvel was 4 of 13 and Manchester 17 of 21.
“I’m incredibly proud of this team, their heart, and their class,” Kris Hengesbach said. “Free throws and second and third-chance points in that second quarter hurt us.
“This team worked very hard, like every team does. They’re going to remember all the fun moments they had together. That’s what it’s about.”
Rachel McInerney had 15 points but also drew a technical foul for elbowing. She explained that she was reacting after her hand, which contained extremely sore knuckles, was apparently being grabbed.
“It’s really painful and it was a reflex, but it isn’t appropriate and I feel bad about it,” she said.