Parker's start helps beat Craig
Photo 
Craig's Anne Morgan blocks a shot by Parker's Kaynesha Zinn on Tuesday.
Photo
Parker's Savannah Shepler fights Craig's Hailey Smith for a loose ball on Tuesday.
Photo
Parker's Danielle Flood grabs a steal from Craig's Amanda Hamilton on Tuesday.
JANESVILLE — Ragged.
That’s the best way to describe Tuesday night’s Big Eight Conference girls basketball intra-city battle between Janesville Parker and Janesville Craig.
The defending co-champion Vikings jumped out to a 9-0 lead en route to a 55-37 victory at Craig, but there weren’t many style points for either team after that.
Parker High (4-1, 4-1) made only 17 of 50 field-goal attempts, while the Cougars were 14 of 43 and committed 17 turnovers.
Two-time Big Eight Player of the Year Catie O’Leary paced Parker with 21 points, but coach Tom Klawitter was more concerned with his team’s defense—or lack thereof.
“I was really disappointed in our defense tonight,” Klawitter said. “We got caught flat-footed a couple times, and out of position (defensively) a lot more than we should’ve been.
“And some of the girls have got to stop watching Catie play and start worrying about what they’re supposed to be doing on the court.”
Parker came out looking like it were ready to blow the Cougars out of their gym. Two steals, a lay-up and an O’Leary three-point basket with 6:20 left in the opening quarter gave the Vikings their quick 9-0 lead.
The Vikings pushed the lead to 15-4 on Kaynesha Zinn’s free throw with 2:51 left in the first quarter and led 19-6 after eight minutes.
Craig coach Mark Marsden, who saw his team struggle early in a loss to Middleton last week, said the Cougars didn’t handle the early pressure.
“We had trouble with their press, and that shouldn’t happen,” Marsden said. “After that, we settled down and played them pretty even.
“I’m pleased with our effort, and I’ve said all along that we’re going to be a much better team by the end of the year.”
Parker, behind 12 first-half points from O’Leary, led 28-16 at the break. O’Leary, who had her fourth game of more than 20 points, pushed the lead to 14 to start the third quarter, but the Cougars went on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to six.
Anne Morgan, who led the Cougars with 11 points before fouling out, started the spurt with a free throw at 6:53 of the third. Ally Marshick’s free throw with 3:41 left in the third made it 30-24. The Vikings responded by outscoring Cougars 10-5 the rest of the quarter.
A 9-3 Vikings’ run to start the fourth put the game away.
Savannah Shepler, making her first start of the season for Parker, finished with 11 points along with Zinn. Whitney Storbakken had 10 points for Craig.
With third-ranked De Pere coming in the opening game of the Sentry Classic at UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, Klawitter knows his team needs to improve some things.
“I’m really looking forward to see how we stack up against a pretty good De Pere team,” Klawitter said. “We’ve got to clean up a few areas.
“All I know is that it’s always nice to get out of here with a win. The first one of the two is out of the way, and now they have to come to our place.”
PARKER 55, CRAIG 37
Parker (55)—O’Leary, 5-9-21; Shepler, 4-0-11; McDonald, 4-0-8; Pernot, 1-0-3; Zinn, 3-5-11; Green-Kenerson, 0-1-1. Totals: 17-15-55.
Craig (37)—Smith, 1-1-3; W. Oliver, 1-1-3; Morgan, 4-3-11; W. Storbakken, 4-0-10; T. Storbakken, 1-0-3; Hamilton, 1-0-2; Marshick, 2-1-5. Totals: 14-6-37.
Janesville Parker 19 9 12 15—55
Janesville Craig 6 10 13 8—37
Three-point goals—Parker 6 (Shepler 3, O’Leary 2, Pernot), Craig 3 (W. Storbakken 2, T. Storbakken). Free throws missed—Parker 6, Craig 6. Total fouls—Parker 10, Craig 17. Fouled out—Morgan.
Sophomores—Craig 67, Parker 25. Craig is 5-1 overall and in the Big Eight; Parker is 0-5, 0-5 .
