‘Little things’ coming together for N-P

NASHUA-PLAINFIELD GIRLS BASKETBALL

‘Little things’ coming together for N-P

Sydney Hansen records a doubledouble Saturday

It’s been all about defense and doing the little things the right way for the Huskies this season, and in a 47-41 loss to Clarksville on Saturday, those little things started to show.

Head coach Erik Smith has stressed defense from the first day of practice. But foul trouble helped the Indians to the victory in a tightly contested game.

“We’re starting to do things better,” Smith said. “We’re taking care of the ball better and we wanted to put ourselves in a position to win the game Saturday, and I think we did that.”

The Huskies committed 25 fouls Saturday and the Indians capitalized. Senior Bridget Ross shot 13-for-15 from the charity stripe alone for Clarksville.

Right now, Smith said the Huskies are playing defense well, but committing reach-in fouls when they don’t have to be reaching.

“We just need to learn to trust ourselves when we’re in a good defensive position,” Smith said.

Sophomore Sydney Hansen appeared as a bright spot for the Huskies on Saturday, recording the team’s second double-double of the season — the first going to senior Aubry Bienemann, who was absent Saturday.

Hansen put up 14 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, nearly half of the Huskies 36 they had total.

“Sydney is an all-around impressive athlete,” Smith said. “She’s just got to get that understanding of the game down. She can compete with anyone athletically, but she’ll be even better once she slows down and the speed of the game slows down.” Senior teammate Briley Fisher helped out on the scoring end, putting up 16 points and eight rebounds. Senior Sami Hyde had three points, 1-for-3 from 3-point land, three assists and six steals. The Huskies will contest with Saint Ansgar tonight, tipping off at 6:15 p.m. on the road, and then will return home on Dec. 18 to host Osage.

Smith said the Green Devils will provide a next-level kind of pressure that the team has to be ready for if it hopes to compete with one of the best teams in the Top of Iowa Conference.

Staff report