Eastbrook's experience & talent stymies Carroll
By Jim McCarter Contributing sportswriter

If Carroll High School's new girls' basketball coach Mike McCroskey had his way, he'd flip the Lady Cougars' 2007- 2008 schedule up-side down.

"I wish we could play Eastbrook and Western at the end of the season, rather than in the first two games," McCroskey said. At that point in the season the coach expects his squad to be better prepared for two of the toughest teams they'll face all year - both as the visiting team.

Eastbrook has posted identical 17-5 records the last two seasons, and is still loaded with talent, led by 5'-7" point guard Ashley Brooks and 5'-11" forward Kelsey Green. Those two seniors combined for 30 points to lead the Panthers to a 57-40 victory.

"That's a good team," Carroll assistant coach Jack Malson said following the Lady Cougars' season-opening game Nov. 7. "What makes them so tough to play is they have a very good point guard [Brooks] who's going to be playing in college next year, and an inside player [Green] who'll also be playing in college next year."

The Cougars, whose tallest player is 5'-8 ½" Morgan Yoder, were unable to stop Green inside. She hit 7 of 8 field goal attempts and further added to the Cougars' woes with seven steals.

Carroll played the Panthers tough for two quarters, but Eastbrook took control in the third. Trailing just 21-18 at halftime, the Lady Cougars started slowly after intermission and paid for it. After three quarters the Lady Panthers were in control 40-29.

"We made a couple of quick turnovers in the third quarter that hurt us," McCroskey said. "And they made three 3-point shots in the third quarter. Everything they threw up started going in. I was pretty pleased with our defense most of the game, but I think their size and strength finally wore us down the second half."

Abby Reinke paced the Lady Cougars with 12 points, followed by Morgan Yoder's 10. Yoder was also Carroll's leading rebounder with 4. Rebounding may be a problem all season for the small, but quick Lady Cougars, who were doubled on the boards by Eastbrook, 26-13.

Freshman point guard Quinci Eller sat on the Cougars' bench most of the first half after picking up two quick fouls, but still managed to collect 5 points and 5 steals. Krystal Brazel added six points, finding the net on two three-point shots.

"From last week's practice game at Lewis Cass to tonight, I saw tremendous improvement," McCroskey said. "We're going to be a good basketball team. I'm pumped!"

Junior Varsity

Carroll's junior varsity won their first game of the season 34-29, also breaking open a close game in the second half.

The Lady Cougars led 12-9 at half time, then Carly Yoder and Amber Hughes sparked a big third quarter. Yoder scored all 6 of her points on three field goals in the third period and Hughes hit 4-of-4 free-throw attempts in the stanza and picked up a couple of steals. Carroll outscored Eastbrook 16-8 in the third to build a 28- 17 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Carroll JV had balanced scoring, led by Lucy Zook's 8. Yoder, Hughes and Kayla Tussinger contributed 6 points apiece, while Jessica Yoder and Hannah Scott each scored 4.

Carroll faced another tough

squad of Panthers Tuesday when they traveled to Western.