[Pittsburgh Fish]

The Kittens shot 40% overall for the game and during turney time this is not a bad shooting percentage for a girls game. Regarding the "uncontested" 3's for Lewis, I agree that many of them were not defended because Ashland wanted some of Lewis' players to shoot the 3 and they were defending against the drive. Seems to me that Bradley knew the Lewis players pretty well. When a senior laden and good 3-point shooting team team hits only 3 for 29 from outside and only shoots 24% overall it is not realistic to think that the defense had nothing to do with it. Even if some of Lewis' better shooters did get good looks from the outside they obviously were not in rythmn to shoot. That's what good defenses do.

As for the difference of free throws, Ashland's interior defense discouraged the drive and forced Lewis to shoot 3's. A team is not going to get fouled much if they don't get the ball inside (attributable to Ashland's good interior defense). Ashland did get the ball inside and got fouled ( a good offensive strategy). additionally, about 6 of Ashland 16 free throws came at the end of the game when Lewis had to foul. Ashland made the most of their trips to the line (12 of 16). Good free throw shooting wins tournament games.

Are you an Ashland supporter?