Switching to a defensive strategy causes Woodbine Girls to win Fremont -mills – The Daily NonPareil

Tabor, Iowa Transfer to 2-3 Zone in the fourth quarter has led the Woodbine Girls Basketball to a victory beyond Fremont-Mills on Thursday.

Fremont-Mills, a regional finalist last year, was severely affected by the high school version of the transfer portal, as two of their five leading goal scorers jumped on a ship-Ela Thornton to Trainer and Riley Evalt to Glend. They have sunk the best brand of the program from 23-1 last season to 9-8 this year.

Meanwhile, Woodbine is in the midst of an adult season. Two years removed from the seasons of 20 gains from the rear-in-line 23-pelvis, state qualifying team 2022-23- “Tigers” are again on Prowl, sitting in one game from the first in the Rolling Valley conference.

In the victory of 66-54 on Thursday, the tigers (13-4) have never led in the second or third quarter, even though they have tied the knights (9-8) twice.

But with 6:05 left in the fourth quarter, Taylor Hofer scored three of his 24 points when she turned 1.

Fremont-Mills briefly tied the lead, but Hoefer pounded a 3-indicator to answer, a shot that gave the tigers a lead forever.

“Just having confidence in myself and my teammates, we are all here for each other,” Hoffer said. “Just play for each other.”

Hoffer, who led both teams with 16 points of the break, as the knights held a 37-31 lead, joined the second half by teammates such as Daniel Steinkler and Charlie Praior.

“I just always trust my teammates,” Hofer said. “I never think of taking the way because I know I will never be there without them, so I just follow.”

They would dominate the fourth quarter 24-6, and late, 1 by Steinkuehler after an offensive rebound will be the best dagger.

“I really knew I just had to conclude what I had to do,” she said. “I have a big role as the largest, one of the biggest ones in the team, so I just play my role and do what I need for my team.”

Both Hoefer and 1 and 3-Indication, and SteinkueHler’s efforts were proof of their confidence to reach the next level.

“They thought they were ready to play at this level,” said Tiger’s head coach Ryan Cohen. “And suddenly, I think they cemented it right there. We are ready. We are ready to deal with that.

“Gamers would say that we were just going right there.”

Cohen said it was good because he saw the doubt in their eyes earlier in the game. “

“And suddenly we began to understand what we could achieve if we actually play defense at one end, bounce and end at the other end,” Cohen said. “So I was proud of the girls.”

The transition to this 2-3 zone was made reluctantly by Cohen, but it was paid as they received “killings” at over 80 percent of the defense possession. This has led to better communication and better results.

“In the end, we dwell on 15 of the last 18 possessions,” he said. “Okay, well, this is the creator of a difference, right there for you. And so again, the defense simply increased a lot of time. I hate going to zone 2-3, but it forced our girls, in my opinion, because it is so unnatural for them to do it, they had to communicate. “

As a team, the tigers saw the victories again accumulated after a challenging schedule last year – 11 games against regional finalists – saw their victories from 23 to 16.

Having confidence which star – or hero – is helping.

“When everyone knows that they should not be Batman, because Batman is already in your team, when you already have Charlie there, that makes things much easier,” Cohen said. “I mean it takes a lot of stress from girls.”

Praior scored 19 in the victory, but it was Hoefer who led with 24 points.

“I think Taylor starts to find his role by saying,” I can obviously be our rating number two if you need me, “Cohen said. “And she just has, you know, NFL memory. She is missing. She doesn’t remember, right? You know, she will go to shoot at another, which is the attitude we want to have. “

The nail plays with “supreme confidence” and others such as Steinkuehler and IZZY CROOK have started to figure out how to use their higher frames (both of which are 5 ft-10 or higher).

They will be missing Katie Praior, injured over the rest of the season last Friday, and who Cohen called one of the best protective players, who is, but tigers can succeed in any situation if they communicate.

“If they can learn to communicate when things are messing up, we will be able to work from many situations,” Cohen said.

The way they are currently playing can include another trip to De May.

Woodbine (13-4) 16 15 11 24-66

Fremont-Mills (9-8) 18 19 11 6-54