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The Morton girls basketball team whipped Galesburg for the second year in a row Jan. 16.
The Potters dominated the host school in a battle of state-ranked teams at the Martin Luther King Tournament at Knox College.
Like a year ago, Morton held the Silver Streaks to 38 points in a double-digit victory.
“We had the same game plan as we did last year,” MHS head coach Bob Becker said.
Cortney Allenbaugh and Sarah Livingston delivered a potent 1-2 punch for the Potters against a potential Class 3A sectional foe.
Both Morton players had 21 points to share game scoring honors. Allenbaugh’s eight rebounds were a team-high figure.
Except for a desperation 3-point try at the end of a quarter, all the girls’ shot attempts came in close proximity to the hoop as they shot 62 percent.
Lexi Ellis, showing no ill effects in her return to the floor, and Kate Byrne combined for another 14 points for a Potter squad that was ahead 34-15 at halftime.
Morton had a terrific total of 19 assists on its 24 field goals. Byrne dished out eight of those passes.
“I was really proud of our kids,” said Becker. “They really seized the opportunity.”
Sharron Diggins was 9-of-10 at the free-throw line to pace Galesburg with 14 points.
The Silver Streaks continue to run their crazy system, but Becker noted they are better this season at driving to
the basket.
Both teams were ranked eighth in the Jan. 11 Associated Press 3A state poll.
MHS 46, Metamora 22
It was only appropriate that Erin Tisdale’s 3-point shot got it all started.
Tisdale, a senior guard, hit a 3 just a few seconds into the game and Morton never looked back on its way to a win at Metamora Thursday.
Becker said Tisdale’s scoring was nice, but, even if she doesn’t score, her value to the team is priceless.
“She’s a great leader. Her commitment to this team is incredible. In our game against Galesburg, I don’t think she had any points, but she was one of the best players on the floor,” he said. “You won’t find a harder worker, or a better teammate.”
Tisdale finished with a game-high 13 points, but her defense impressed Becker the most.
“Defensively, she was very good. Our whole team was,” he said. “We got after them (Metamora) and limited their shots.”
Morton, now 8-0 in the Mid-Illini Conference, tipped several passes, came up with a lot of steals, and forced 14 turnovers in the first half.
The Morton girls basketball team whipped Galesburg for the second year in a row Jan. 16.
The Potters dominated the host school in a battle of state-ranked teams at the Martin Luther King Tournament at Knox College.
Like a year ago, Morton held the Silver Streaks to 38 points in a double-digit victory.
“We had the same game plan as we did last year,” MHS head coach Bob Becker said.
Cortney Allenbaugh and Sarah Livingston delivered a potent 1-2 punch for the Potters against a potential Class 3A sectional foe.
Both Morton players had 21 points to share game scoring honors. Allenbaugh’s eight rebounds were a team-high figure.
Except for a desperation 3-point try at the end of a quarter, all the girls’ shot attempts came in close proximity to the hoop as they shot 62 percent.
Lexi Ellis, showing no ill effects in her return to the floor, and Kate Byrne combined for another 14 points for a Potter squad that was ahead 34-15 at halftime.
Morton had a terrific total of 19 assists on its 24 field goals. Byrne dished out eight of those passes.
“I was really proud of our kids,” said Becker. “They really seized the opportunity.”
Sharron Diggins was 9-of-10 at the free-throw line to pace Galesburg with 14 points.
The Silver Streaks continue to run their crazy system, but Becker noted they are better this season at driving to
the basket.
Both teams were ranked eighth in the Jan. 11 Associated Press 3A state poll.
MHS 46, Metamora 22
It was only appropriate that Erin Tisdale’s 3-point shot got it all started.
Tisdale, a senior guard, hit a 3 just a few seconds into the game and Morton never looked back on its way to a win at Metamora Thursday.
Becker said Tisdale’s scoring was nice, but, even if she doesn’t score, her value to the team is priceless.
“She’s a great leader. Her commitment to this team is incredible. In our game against Galesburg, I don’t think she had any points, but she was one of the best players on the floor,” he said. “You won’t find a harder worker, or a better teammate.”
Tisdale finished with a game-high 13 points, but her defense impressed Becker the most.
“Defensively, she was very good. Our whole team was,” he said. “We got after them (Metamora) and limited their shots.”
Morton, now 8-0 in the Mid-Illini Conference, tipped several passes, came up with a lot of steals, and forced 14 turnovers in the first half.
During a 10-0 run early in the game, Morton junior center Sarah Livingston blocked two shots in the span of five seconds.
Livingston had eight blocked shots for the game.
The Metamora (6-15, 4-5) turnovers usually led to transition baskets for Morton, which showed its ability to get up the court quickly.
“We’re very unselfish. That starts at the defensive end,” Becker said. “Then, it leads to offensive opportunities for everyone else.”
Metamora coach Steve Gorrell gave Morton credit for its stifling defense, but he didn’t agree with some of the “no-calls” on Morton’s blocks.
“They get about 10 blocks and there isn’t a foul called on one of them? Not to take anything away from Morton, but I thought there might have been too much contact on some of those,” Gorrell said.
Metamora’s two leading scorers, juniors Joelie Zwick and Kyler Samp had very few open looks. Samp (four points) drew her fourth foul with 6:05 left in the third quarter. Zwick, the team’s leading three-point threat, did not score any points.
Tisdale, Byrne and Ellis each had steals in the first four minutes and Morton jumped out to a 14-2 lead, forcing Gorrell to use his second timeout with 2:11 left in the first quarter.
Morton led 28-8 at halftime, and made 10 of 12 free throws in the second half.
“They are a very good team. Their pressure on defense gave us problems, especially in the first half, and we couldn’t recover from that big hole that we were in,” Gorrell said.
Morton beat Metamora 63-31 Jan. 6 at Morton.
“We hoped we would give them a better game this time,” Gorrell said. “I can live with us giving up 46 points, but we only scored 22. That’s not got going to be good enough to beat a team like Morton.”
MHS 64, East Moline 46; MHS 47, Central 25
The Potters won both games Saturday at home to conclude the MLK Tournament.
Morton (21-2) has won eight consecutive games in 2012 since losing Dec. 30 in the State Farm Holiday Classic third-place matchup.
The Potters repeated their title at the talent-laden Galesburg gathering after going 5-0.
Livingston again surpassed the 20-point mark in the day’s first game against East Moline with 21.
Four other Morton players — Allenbaugh, Tisdale, Ellis and Byrne — had between seven and 10 points for a well-rounded offense.
Mikayla Fallon’s 20 points guided the Lady Panthers, who were the fifth Western Big 6 Conference foe to unsuccessfully challenge the Potters.
Morton squashed Central, which is depleted by suspensions, in the nightcap.
No Potter was in double figures, but six players had between five and eight points.
Livingston and Carly Crocker contributed eight points and Allenbaugh and Emily Schultz seven apiece.
Byrne had six points and Ellis five, while the Morton defense held the Lions to single digits in each of the first three periods.
Jemia Carpenter had nine points for formerly state-rated Central.
Morton rose to No. 4 in the Jan. 18 AP state poll.
Becker said he believed that was the highest the program has ever been ranked.
Only six games remain until the postseason.
“The season goes so fast when you have a great group of kids,” Becker said.
More on game with Irish: In Morton’s 55-53 win Jan. 14 over Notre Dame, Livingston had 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Byrne provided 16 points and Allenbaugh 13 in the game that kicked off the MLK Tournament.
“Notre Dame is an up-and-coming team,” said Becker. “They’re a scary young team.”
It was tough for the Potters to extend their lead since as they missed some good opportunities around the basket and hit only 5-of-17 free throws.
Ellis missed both games that day with an injury.
Freshman sensation Olivia Elger of ND had 20 points.
Hooping for a Cure: When Morton hosts Dunlap Tuesday, it will be an event for cancer awareness.
The team is selling pink rally towels for $5 each. Those interested in purchasing one can contact any player or coach.
All proceeds will go the American Cancer Society.
Anyone who brings their towel that night will receive free admission to the game.
The MHS dance team will join the boys basketball squad for a halftime dance to help the cause, and the cheerleaders also will be on hand.
Over the last two years, $2,500 has been raised.
