After winning just two games last season, the Constantine girls basketball team is off to a 1-0 start to the 2013-14 slate after Tuesday’s 45-40 victory on the road against Marcellus.
The Falcons were in an 18-10 hole after the first quarter but outscored Marcellus 13-0 in the second frame.
Senior center Makayla Parsons scored 14 points and junior guard Amber Chupp chipped in 11 points and six rebounds in the effort to lead Constantine.
Makayla Parsons
“Getting that first win right off the bat … with where we’re trying to go with our program, it’s definitely a confidence booster not only for the program but for the girls involved,” second-year head coach Joe Stacey said. “Things kind of started out bad for us; they jumped out to a 6-0 lead right off the bat. In the past we’ve just kind of folded. It was that mentality that’s been in our program for several years — here-we-go-again-type thing. The girls didn’t let that affect them. They played through it and didn’t get rattled.
“We got it to 18-10 at the end of the first and didn’t let it get too out of hand. Our defense absolutely stepped up in the second quarter and we outscored them 13-0. The main focus was our defense. We got the proper rotations down.”
Senior Michelle Smith finished with eight points and three steals, sophomore Bailey Potter added six points and four assists, senior Emily Bowers scored four points and freshman Ashley Loose contributed a bucket and a team-best eight rebounds and three steals.
“We collected ourselves and the girls made the plays on the floor that made the difference,” Stacey said.