HENDERSONVILLE For the second consecutive day, Pope John Paul II High’s girls basketball team frustrated an opponent early on with its zone defense.
And, for the second consecutive day, visiting Hendersonville pulled away in the second half from an opponent to secure a victory.
The visiting Lady Commandos scored 15 consecutive points to begin the fourth quarter as they captured a 55-32 win over the Lady Knights on Tuesday afternoon in the Pope John Paul II Christmas Classic.
Pope John Paul II High senior Callie Ryan spins away from Hendersonville senior Joslyn Jarrett (12) during first-quarter action.
Hendersonville (7-3) held the Lady Knights (3-9) scoreless for the first 4:43 of the final period, turning a 34-26 lead after three quarters into a 49-26 edge. That surge came thanks to a few turnovers and uncontested layups.
“We knew that if we could push it down the floor before (PJP II) could set up in their 2-3 zone (defense), we’d have an easier chance of scoring,” Hendersonville sophomore Brooke Long said. “In the beginning, all we had was shooting outside shots, so we had to push it.”
Long scored eight points during the Lady Commandos’ run to open the final quarter, and she finished with 17 points, one day after scoring a career-high 26 against Nashville Central Christian.
“What she has in her athleticism and her length, she has the ability to change a basketball game,” Hendersonville head coach Drew Johnson said. “She turned the tide for us. When she gets the ball in her hands on the wing, you can’t catch her. She does a really good job on defense too.”
Pope John Paul II High senior Callie Ryan spins away from Hendersonville senior Joslyn Jarrett (12) during first-quarter action.
Hendersonville held a 26-15 lead late in the second quarter before the Lady Knights scored the final five points of the first half.
Johnson felt that the early start had a bit of an impact in the first half, although the Lady Commandos only trailed once (early in the first quarter).
“I’m glad we don’t play a lot of 11:30 games,” Johnson said. “I had a totally different team toward the end of the game. It took them a while to get their legs under them.”
Senior forward Windee Johnson led the Lady Knights with a game-high 22 points, doing everything she could to keep PJP II close.
“She was determined to go out and play as hard as she could and give us the best chance to win,” PJP II first-year head coach Angi Puckett said. “Our guards were doing a good job of looking at her inside, and she got some good looks.”
Pope John Paul II High senior Miranda Smith dribbles into the lane past Hendersonville senior Joslyn Jarrett during third-quarter action.
Hendersonville is scheduled to travel to Charleston, S.C., for a tournament beginning on Monday, while the Lady Knights are slated to participate in the Goodpasture Christmas Classic on Monday and Tuesday.
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.
HENDERSONVILLE (55) – Brooke Long 17, Joslyn Jarrett 14, Peyton Sheehan 11, Carleigh Short 5, Makensie Cotter 3, Elizabeth Hatfield 2, Emma Throneberry 2, Makenzie Branch 1.
POPE JOHN PAUL II (32) – Windee Johnson 22, Mercedes Smith 6, Olivia Nivison 2, Alison Gerstner 1, Miranda Smith 1.
Half: 26-20, Hendersonville. 3-point goals: Hendersonville 6 (Jarrett 2, Sheehan 2, Long 1, Short 1), Pope John Paul II 2 (Mercedes Smith 2). Records: Hendersonville 7-3, Pope John Paul II 3-9.