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Watching Concordia Lutheran's girls basketball team on the offensive end can get dizzying. A player cuts here. Another flashes through the lane. A diagonal pass goes across the court, followed by a bounce pass to the middle. Then a pass back outside and another playing coming off a screen.
Concordia has bought into the motion offense. The Cadets rarely settle for a bad shot or have a player try to control the game on her own. Instead, it's constant movement and always looking for that one extra pass.
All of this led to the defending 3A state champions moving onto another sectional final as No. 11 Concordia defeated Bishop Dwenger 60-42 in Sectional 22.
The offensive efficiency and sharing the ball led to 14 assists for Concordia in the game on 21 made baskets. This included nine assists from Rachel Kammeyer, who only attempted one shot.
“We wanted to get all our players to contribute and show off what they have to offer, and you know, we are team oriented,” Concordia's Courtney Smith said. “We didn't want just one person to do everything. We just wanted everybody in it, and that's why we get the extra pass to make everything look better.”
Smith was on the receiving end of a few of those passes as she led all scorers in the game with 23 points. She was joined in double figures by Jacqueline Dixie's 13 points, but both of them are able to thrive in roles that fit with the team's style.
“His (Concordia head coach David Miller) kids buy into what he wants to do; that's why they've been successful,” Bishop Dwenger head coach David Scudder said. “He gets kids who know their role, like number 20 (Kammeyer), she doesn't shoot the basketball, but she's happy with that … and that's what you need. There's not real standouts, but they are good at what the do, and that's what it takes.”
This team focus also goes for the defensive end. Smith led the team in scoring and shutdown Bishop Dwenger's Ally Christman for most of the game. The Saints' leading scorer was held to one point in the first half due to Smith and the Cadets aggressive man-to-man defense. Concordia held Bishop Dwenger to 15 points in the first half to take a 30-15 lead at the break.
“Christman is just a really good basketball player,” Miller said. “So, we were really concerned about her, and they got several people that can shoot some threes and some bigs inside, so it was nice to get that lead on them and live with that through the game.”
Christman finished the game with nine points, and Bishop Dwenger was led by Alyssa Gibson's 12 points.
That wasn't be enough to stop the Cadets as their title defense continues for another day as Concordia goes for its fourth straight sectional championship against No. 9 Angola tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Bishop Dwenger.
CONCORDIA LUTHERAN 60, BISHOP DWENGER 42
Concordia Lutheran 15 15 14 16 — 60
Bishop Dwenger 7 8 11 16 — 42
Concordia lutheran: Smith 23, Hahn 6, Dixie 13, Young 8, Sparks 8, Germann 2
Bishop Dwenger: Christman 9, Adgalanis 7, Gibson 12, Mueller 4, Jenkins 2, Burkhardt 2, Maxwell 2, Shea 4
IHSAA Girl's Basketball Sectional Pairings
Class 4A
Snider
Tuesday
Northrop 45, DeKalb 43, OT
Wednesday
Carroll (9-11) 65, Columbia City 57
Snider 62, East Noble 35
Friday
Northrop 53, North Side 33
Snider 69, Carroll 35
Today
Northrop (8-13) vs. Snider (19-3), 7:30 p.m.
Homestead
Tuesday
South Side 61, Wayne 30
Homestead 80, Jay County 36
Friday
South Side 50, New Haven 18
Homestead 43, Huntington North 35
Today
South Side (20-3) vs. Homestead (21-3), 7:30 p.m.
Class 3A
Bishop Dwenger
Tuesday
Concordia Lutheran 58, Leo 41
Garrett 60, Woodlan 45
Friday
Concordia Lutheran 60, Bishop Dwenger 42
Angola 50, Garrett 27
Today
Concordia Lutheran (16-6) vs. Angola (19-3)
Mississinewa
Tuesday
Norwell 87, Mississinewa 47
Heritage 61, Bellmont 49
Friday
Norwell 61, Eastbrook 40
Heritage 67, Whitko 62
Today
Norwell (20-3) vs. Heritage (14-8), 7:30 p.m.
Class 2A
Bluffton
Tuesday
Bishop Luers 69, Adams Central 41
South Adams 41, Bluffton 37
Friday
Bishop Luers 69, Eastside 37
South Adams 34, Churubusco 25
Today
Bishop Luers (11-11) vs. South Adams (9-12), 7 p.m.
Class A
Canterbury
Tuesday
Hamilton 48, Lakeland Christian 25
Bethany Christian 74, Howe School 26
Wednesday
Lakewood Park 74, Elkhart Christian 35
Canterbury 80, Blackhawk Christian 27
Friday
Bethany Christian 49, Hamilton 37
Canterbury 100, Lakewood Park 50
Today
Bethany Christian (13-9) vs. Canterbury (20-3), 7:30 p.m.
