Central girls use threes to beat improved East

Despite a 64-42-point victory Tuesday night at Brookfield East, Brookfield Central coach Dan Wandrey was impressed by what he saw from the home team.

"Oh my God, they're dramatically improved," Wandrey said afterward. "We had to work really hard for that game. "After 17 games we're starting to figure it out a little bit. People are starting to understand their roles better. Our energy kids gave us energy. Our shooters shot. I thought our rebounding wasn't where it has been."

Lydia Rohde, who finished with 15 points had two 3-pointers and was 5 for 5 from the free-throw line. Forward Sarah Fotsch scored 13 points, but Nicole Hinz also contributed seven points with two threes thrown in and Nicole Wellenstein and Mary DeChant each tossed in a 3-pointer.

"I was so proud of our energy tonight," Wandrey said. "Everybody kept saying 'You're going to win, you're going to win. You're so much better.' And we're not.

"We have more experience. Again, their three good players are really good. And then (Emily) Utic comes in and hits a couple of threes. It's hard for our kids in that situation to hear, "You're going to win, you're going to win, you're going to win' and not come out and go through the motions."

Leading 17-7 after one as Rohde and Jasmine Lewis combined for 10 first-quarter points, Central started to kick it up early in the second quarter when Rohde hit two free throws, Fotsch scored on a fast break, Abby Miller hit a jumper for a 23-11 advantage with 4:02 left in the half.

The half closed out with three 3-pointers, as Rohde and Hinz sandwich two threes around a try by East's Utic.

The Spartans kept hanging around, as a 3-pointer by Kellie Goodman and a jumper by Mariah Miller cut the lead to 31-22 with 4:59 left in the third quarter.

But then Lewis hit a jumper, Fotsch stole the ball and scored and Hinz hit 1-of-2 free throws for a 36-22 lead. But two free throws by Miller and a 3-pointer by Abby Gregg cut the lead to 36-27 with 1:48 left in the third quarter.

But then that experience that Wandrey was talking about took over as Central a 15-0 run from 1:28 of the third quarter to 5:55 left in the game and the Lancers had a 51-27 advantage.

Hinz opened the scoring with a 3-pointer and Rohde closed out the quarter with two free throws for a 41-27 lead.

But Fotsch and Emma Brauer opened the fourth quarter with baskets, before Fotsch added a basket and two free throws and Rohde hit a layup to end the run.

"I told them going into the fourth quarter we weren't done, but then they go out and score seven baskets," East coach Mike Goodman said. "But that's the tough culture that they've run into. 'Here we go again, here we go again,' reminiscent of the past couple years."

Miller was outstanding with 17 points and Utic finished with 12.