Generals snuff out Flames

View larger image Ashlie Clar View larger image Keyana Phelps

By Brad Fauber - sports@nvdaily.com

QUICKSBURG -- Stonewall Jackson rode a pair of outstanding offensive performances from seniors Keyana Phelps and Ashlie Clar to beat Eastern Mennonite, 66-43, in non-district girls basketball action on Thursday.

Clar and Phelps combined to score more than the Flames as a team, with Clar leading the Generals with 23 points and Phelps adding 21 points and seven rebounds.

The Generals (12-3, 5-3 Shenandoah) never trailed in the game, but they did have to overcome a sluggish start to the night.

Stonewall Jackson opened the scoring with a bucket by Phelps just 18 seconds into the first quarter, but then was unable to do much offensively for the next 2 1/2 minutes. The Generals' next four shots after Phelps' basket found the front of the rim, and they struggled to combat the full-court pressure applied by the Flames.

Generals coach Jeff Burner was forced to call a timeout to avoid a 10-second violation with 5:15 remaining in the opening period, and used the opportunity to rally his players.

"It was mainly just about being focused on what we were doing here," Burner said of the topic of discussion during the timeout. "It was like everybody had 10 thumbs and three feet -- we couldn't do anything right."

The Generals finally found their footing shortly after the timeout as Clar hit a 3-pointer to break a 2-2 tie. Stonewall Jackson never looked back as it ended the first period on a 16-3 run to hold an 18-5 lead heading into the second frame.

Stonewall Jackson found a solution to their early shooting woes by continually feeding Phelps with good passes into the paint, and Phelps rewarded her teammates' charity with 11 points and a 5-for-5 effort from the floor in the first quarter.

Phelps' success inside was a welcome sight for the senior as she has struggled with that part of her game at times this season.

"Lately I haven't been able to finish shots -- I've been rushing and not getting myself set," Phelps said. "I kind of took my time [tonight] and finished, so that was good."

The Generals continued to push the ball in the second quarter as they found a solution to the Flames' pressure and gathered some easy buckets in transition, forcing Eastern Mennonite to abandon the press.

The Flames (8-8) found little success offensively against Stonewall Jackson's defense as they shot just 6 for 20 (30 percent) in the first half. What little offense they could muster mainly came through senior center Carly Kraybill, who had 11 first-half points and led Eastern Mennonite with 16 for the game.

"We weren't pleased with our post defense in the first half," Burner said. "We let them get position on the block way too easy -- that was probably the main focus at halftime."

The Generals expanded upon a 40-18 halftime lead as they pushed the margin to 31 points midway through the fourth quarter. Clar led Stonewall Jackson's charge with 12 second-half points and finished 3 for 5 from 3-point territory.

While the Generals were happy to get the win on Thursday, they know a much more important test awaits them tonight when they host district foe Buffalo Gap.

"I think [Thursday's win] boosts our confidence, but we've still got to get ready for tomorrow," Clar said.