Predictable victory/ Confidence pays for Pine Creek

Before Thursday night's 4A Metro League game against Lewis- Palmer, Pine Creek senior Bev Dunning was confident her team would win.

Nevermind the fact that Dunning's coach, Cathy Callahan, thought her Pine Creek (8-3) squad had never beaten Lewis-Palmer (7-2) in its own gymnasium.

With her prediction made, Dunning went out and backed it up with a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 52-48 Pine Creek win.

"I thought we'd have a good game coming in because we have been playing as a team," Dunning said. "And if we continue to play as a team, we're going to tear it up."

The 6-foot-1 Dunning began tearing Lewis-Palmer up in the second quarter after both Lindsey Laband and Amy Bladow picked up two fouls in the opening quarter.

With Bladow sitting on the bench for the entire second quarter and Laband only playing a few minutes, Dunning scored six points in the paint and pulled down five rebounds.

Lewis-Palmer coach Russ Smith said having to sit Laband and Bladow hurt his team.

"It cost us big time because as soon as they came out Pine Creek went inside against us," Smith said. "And I bet half of their points in the second quarter came from offensive rebounds."

Down 25-16 at halftime, Lewis-Palmer needed a quick start in the third quarter to come back. Instead layups by Dunning and Shannon Davidson combined with a 3-pointer from Tiara Harris extended Pine Creek's lead to 32-16.

Lewis-Palmer continued to battle back, bolstered by the inside presence of Bladow who scored five of her team-high 11 points in the quarter. Dunning and Pine Creek still held a 37-25 lead after three quarters, however.

After Harris hit another 3-pointer to open the fourth, Lewis- Palmer attempted another comeback, whittling down the lead to five points twice and igniting the home crowd. But Pine Creek made enough free throws down the stretch to escape with the win.

"It was a huge win for us," Callahan said. "Because we needed to prove to ourselves and to Colorado Springs that we are a good basketball team. We've been overlooked this season but this win should open people's eyes."

- Kurt Eilmes may be reached at 636-0250 or keilmes@gazette.com

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