Lisbon is trying to build its girls’ basketball program. First-year coach Jack Leighty knows the foundation should be built with defense.
“We’re not always going to shoot it well,” Leighty said. “But we can always have effort. And we can always defend.”
That worked out well for the Lions on Friday, Dec. 20, as they beat North Cedar 47-16 in the Lion’s Den.
“I think we’re a lot better than we were last year, defensive-wise,” sophomore Morgan Sauser said. “And just a lot better in general. I think we can compete with a lot of teams.”
Sauser played extensively as a freshman but also had knee surgery after the season. Leighty said she’s just now getting up to speed.
“She’s starting to trust herself, and not just spotting up and shooting jumpers,” Leighty said. “Any time you have surgery it takes time. You have to build up that trust back in yourself. We were starting to see that tonight.”
Sauser led a balanced offensive attack with 12 points. That included a logo 3-pointer to end the first half. Lisbon led at intermission, 39-14.
“I do,” have permission, Sauser said of her Caitlin Clark 3-point range. She was 1-of-5 from deep, overall.
“We’ve got to keep those under wraps,” Leighty said of the long-range 3s. “But she does have the ability to make them.
“I don’t know we need to shoot a ton of them … but every once in a while.”
Big offense wasn’t needed Friday. The Lions held the Knights to two points in the first and last quarters. North Cedar (1-7) shot just 25 percent overall (7 of 28) and had 32 turnovers.
Kamryn Kahl and Emma Pleasant each added nine points for Lisbon (3-5). Kahl hit a pair of 3-pointers to open the game and put the Knights in an early hole.
Leighty said he thought the Lions were missing the same intensity they had Thursday, Dec. 19, when they lost 40-34 at Alburnett.
Kahl led the offense with 12 points.
On Tuesday, Dec. 17, Lisbon lost at Easton Valley, 37-33. Kahl had 19 points.
“We’re trying to figure things out,” said Leighty, who was hired shortly before school started. “We can’t take anybody for granted. We’re looking to get better every time out.
“We’ve shown so much growth from Nov. 11, we are so much further ahead. I kind of got a late start at this, and have joked, we’re building the plane as we’re flying a little bit. So, we can use Christmas break to kind of regroup.”
LISBON 47, NORTH CEDAR 16
North Cedar (16) – Reese Sandberg 0-6 0-2 0, Caylee Curley 1-2 0-0 2, Aubrey Webb 0-4 0-0 0, Lily Dohmen 1-2 0-0 2, Haley Hefflefinger 2-3 0-2 4, Emily Pruess 0-0 0-2 0, Addyson Lehrman 1-9 3-4 6, Kaylea Troughton 1-1 0-0 2, Bella Dohmen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 7-28 3-10 16.
Lisbon (47) – Emersyn Reiter 0-2 0-0 0, Ava Ahrendsen 3-5 1-2 7, Maleeah Adams 1-3 0-0 2, Morgan Sauser 4-13 3-6 12, Kamryn Kahl 2-13 3-8 9, Quinn Roos 3-8 0-0 6, Emma Pleasant 4-5 1-4 9, Lohgan Anderson 0-0 0-00 0, Brynnley Patterson 1-1 0-0 2, Schaefer Krie 0-1 0-0 0, Payton Curtis 0-0 0-0 0, Riley Clark 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-51 8-20 47.
North Cedar 2 5 7 2 – 16
Lisbon 11 13 15 8 – 47
3-point goals – NC 1-7 (Webb 0-3, Lehrman 1-4), Lisbon 3-13 (Reiter 0-1, Adams 0-2, Sauser 1-5, Kahl 2-5). Rebounds – NC 30 (Dohmen 6), Lisbon 35 (Ahrendsen 7, Sauser 7, Pleasant 7). Turnovers – NC 33, Lisbon 14. Total fouls – NC 18, Lisbon 12. Fouled out – Webb.