The Lebanon Daily Record
By Israel Potoczny
MARSHFIELD — A tough start to the 2012-2013 season continued on Thursday for the Lebanon girls’ basketball team.
Playing the Marshfield Blue Jays, who were without the services of two-time junior all-state guard Lauren Allridge, the ‘Jackets fell, 59-48.
Lebanon (0-5) trailed 30-17 at the half, thanks in part to a 22-2 run by Marshfield in the second quarter.
“We just came out and played a little nervous is the best way I would describe it,” Lebanon head coach Charlie Pentecost said. “We had a few turnovers in the first half. Marshfield is Marshfield and it doesn’t matter who the coach is, the mold that they have is they are going to play tough defense and get after you, and we just didn’t handle it very well to start off with.
“The second half, we handled the ball, got under control, and played pretty well.”
But Pentecost said the ‘Jackets accomplished a halftime goal as they set out to win the second half. LHS rallied to outscore the ‘Jays in the second half by two, 31-29.
“We kind of made it our mission to win the second half and we did that,” Pentecost said. “We are taking those small victories and trying to build on them. That is one that we can take from. Unfortunately, we got in too big a hole early and couldn’t dig out of it.”
It has been a tough start to the season for a young Lebanon team, whose varsity rotation features four sophomores. The ‘Jackets have lost each of its five games by double figures this season.
“They are pushing through it and we are seeing good things from them,” Pentecost said. “It is just consistency right now, which is what maturity is going to bring us, and experience is going to be our best teacher.
“We are pushing through it and growing, and we are seeing a lot of good things, we just have to make those good things last all four quarters.”
Sophomore Ashton Light led Lebanon on Thursday with 12 points, while Kelsey Pemberton added 10.
Marshfield (3-4) was led by Lilia Thoebold and Samantha French, each of whom scored 12 points. They have been without Allridge, who has battled through stress fractures in her legs. Allrdige warmed up with the ‘Jays but did not play.
The Lebanon junior varsity posted a 36-34 win on Thursday. Marshfield will next play on Monday at Mt. Vernon. The ‘Jackets are off until they open play in the Lebanon Central Bank Holiday Tournament against Dixon on Dec. 27.
