Daily Archives: December 29, 2015

(Warminster PA) Karlee Krchnavi did not set the Palisades scoring record (she needed twenty-one points) but everything else went nicely for the Pirates (7-2) as they easily defeated William Tennent, 43-22, on Tuesday night.

The victory, in the championship game of the William Tennent Holiday Classic, came about for Palisades thanks in large part to a tight man-to-man defense. The host team spent a night with infrequent inside opportunities and very few second chances.

Karlee and teammate Kayla Reed topped all scorers with fourteen points each. Karlee now needs seven more to become the Pirates all-time scoring leader.

To say that the Panthers (5-5) struggled to get points is to put it mildly. Being on its home court didn’t help a bit as WT suffered through a one-point first quarter and a two-point third quarter. Not many games are won at that pace!

The Panthers were geared up defensively to keep six-foot Karlee from getting uncontested entry passes using an assortment of zone defenses. However, the Pirates most of the time resisted forcing passes in closer instead opted for high-percentage openings. Overplaying Karlee provided some juicy opportunities for Kayla Reed and Katie King that turned into layups.

Palisades ran nine straight points in the first four minutes before the Panthers’ Braylin Dougherty made a free throw. The last four minutes of the first quarter were all Pirates as they put ten unanswered points together to grab a 19-1 lead.

Karlee drained a three in the breakaway quarter while junior Alexa Parks had a nifty under-and-up layup.

The visitors from Kintnerville increased their advantage to 31-9 at halftime despite a three by the Panthers’ Kelly Scipione.

A year ago to the day, in the Quakertown Holiday Tournament, Palisades had a nice halftime lead only to have WT roar back with a 47-point second half to win going away 66-52. I wondered at halftime if maybe the Panthers might have some sort of comeback up their collective sleeves.

William Tennent did win the second half, 13-12, but the third quarter was a disaster. The Panthers were shut out for 6 ½ minutes, during which they committed six turnovers, and their deficit became thirty (39-9). A layup by freshman Jenna Rodebaugh provided WT’s only points.

One benefit of the large point spread was that everyone in uniform saw plenty of action. Karlee, in particular, did a lot of watching. Obviously, if PHS coach Brad Huebner wanted Karlee to break the scoring record at William Tennent it could have happened. Now that record-breaking event is orchestrated for the Pirates next game which is at home.

In the game versus WT a year ago Karlee had thirty-one points. On that difficult evening her teammates struggled to score and get back on defense against a fast-paced Panthers’ playing style.

This time around Karlee struggled from the outside but her teammates made up the difference on both ends of the court.

William Tennent may have been capable of pressing well but frigid shooting kept them from being able to get into any sort of turnover-causing, full-court pressure.

Palisades box

William Tennent box

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)