CHARLOTTESVILLE — One undefeated team against another undefeated team doesn’t always equal a competitive game.
That was the case Saturday when Class 2A No. 3 Eastern Hancock hosted Wapahani in a matchup of girls basketball teams that were perfect on the season, both overall and in the Mid-Eastern Conference.
Eastern Hancock (7-0, 4-0) was never challenged, scoring the game’s first 20 points en route to a 60-26 victory over Wapahani (4-1, 2-1).
It was senior-to-senior for the first four points. Ruby White scored on an assist from Makenzie O’Neal. Sydney Springman followed with a bucket on a feed from Brooklyn Willis. The Royals had 18 assists on 20 made baskets.
After a pair of Springman free throws, freshman Kenzie Koch got into the act with a 3-point field goal.
Koch would end up with 12 first-quarter points and finish with a game-high 24.
Wapahani didn’t score until 2:19 left in the first quarter when Megan Luce hit a 3-pointer. It was quickly answered with five straight Koch points to end the period.
“We were able to set the tone early,” Eastern Hancock coach Shari Doud said. “That’s something we preach to the kids. The first three minutes, all minutes are huge, but the first three minutes of the first quarter are really, really important. I felt we came out and set that type of tone super early. We got off to that quick lead and did not look back.”
Eastern Hancock led 25-3 after one quarter and 40-11 at halftime.
“They threw a lot of different defenses at us. We had to adjust and recognize different types of defenses, box-and-one, 2-3 (zone) and man-to-man,” Doud said. “The girls played a little chaotic at times just because of lack of recognition of what they were doing defensively. That’s why we went to our press early to try and score in transition and not have to worry about what they settle in on the halfcourt.”
The Royals defense helped force 10 first-quarter turnovers and 13 in the first half.
White joined Koch in double figures with 16. Springman had nine and O’Neal scored seven.
O’Neal had a game-high five assists. Willis had four assists and was the co-leader, with White, in rebounds with six. Springman had five steals. Koch had three assists and three steals.
Judy Dargo led Wapahani with nine points on three 3-pointers.
Eastern Hancock’s average margin of victory in seven wins is 32.4, sixth biggest in the state and third highest among teams in Class 2A. The Royals defensive average of 26.3 is eighth in the state and fourth among 2A clubs.
Doud said they’ll have some big tests coming soon. They’ll have a challenging set of games to open the month of December.
On Saturday, the Royals host Class 3A Northwestern. On Dec. 5, they welcome North Decatur, a team they lost to last year. On Dec. 9, they will play host to Class 4A Indianapolis Cathedral, a late addition to the schedule, and on Dec. 12 they will travel to Class 2A runner-up Lapel, a team they beat last season.
Lapel (6-1) is ranked No. 6 in the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association 2A poll.
The Wapahani game ended a stretch of four straight MEC games. The next conference game is Dec. 21 at Monroe Central.
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Eastern Hancock 60, Wapahani 26
Wapahani;3;8;9;6;—;26
Eastern Hancock;25;15;18;2;—;60
Wapahani (4-1, 2-1): Megan Luce 1 0-0 3, Emily Luce 3 0-0 8, Destiny Felder 1 0-2 2, Zoey Swallow 0 1-2 1, Emilee Thompson 0 1-4 1, Judy Dargo 3 0-0 9, Maddie Jefferson 0 0-0 0, Bailey Carpenter 1 0-0 2, Gabby Felder 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 2-6 26.
Eastern Hancock (7-0, 4-0): Makenzie O’Neal 1 5-8 7, Brooklyn Willis 0 0-0 0, Ruby White 5 6-6 16, Kenzie Koch 9 4-5 24, Sydney Springman 3 3-4 9, Ellie Meyer 1 0-0 2, Camryn Andrus 0 0-0 0, Bella Sotelo 0 0-0 0, Lainee Parker 0 0-0 0, Kiersten Judd 1 0-0 2, Clara Wallace 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 18-23 60.
3-point goals: Wapahani 6 (Dargo 3, E. Luce 2, M. Luce), Eastern Hancock 2 (Koch 2)
