Goss Sparks LCA To Hoops Victory
WINONA LAKE – Coach Ty Propp calls Jessica Goss a spark for his Lakeland Christian Academy girls basketball team.
The LCA point guard set the tone early and often Saturday afternoon to spark the Cougars to a 50-37 hoops win over visiting Michigan City Marquette Catholic.
Goss popped in nine of her game-high 19 points in the opening period as LCA used a strong start and a fine finish to top the Blazers.
Senior Emilee Catron netted a dozen points for the Cougars, who evened their season record at 1-1.
Goss, a 5-4 senior, got the hosts going. The Cougars never trailed in the contest as Goss drained a 3-pointer for the first points of the game. The contest was tied just once at 3-3 before LCA used an 8-0 run to take charge. The Cougars led 15-4 after the opening period on the strength of a 7-of-12 shooting effort from the field, while Marquette was just 1-of-8.
“Jess is a spark for us and an integral part of our team,” said first-year LCA coach Propp. “She knows only one speed out there and she goes for it. I thought the good thing today was she was also in control too. She played a very good game with her team in mind. Her speed in transition is a big key.”
The Blazers, playing their season opener, trailed just 20-15 at halftime. LCA managed just five second-period points on 1-of-9 shooting and had eight of their 31 turnovers in the stanza.
Marquette, which finished 1-19 last season, got within 20-19 on a rebound basket by 5-10 junior Colleen Falk with 6:15 to play in the third quarter. The Cougars were up to the challenge as they answered with an 8-0 run, sparked by Goss, to lead 28-19. The Blazers cut the lead to 30-26 at the end of the period as senior guard Hannah Weber drained a triple just before the horn.
LCA never blinked an eye in a strong fourth quarter. The hosts used a 13-3 run in the first four minutes of the final stanza to put the game away. Catron and Alisa Gross each scored five points and Goss added four in the final frame for the Cougars, who hit 10-of-12 free throws in the fourth period.
The Cougars, who finished 2-19 last season, bounced back after a 57-23 home loss Tuesday night to a strong Northfield team. Goss paced LCA in that contest with seven points.
“I thought our girls adjusted well on defense today,” Propp said. “They picked it up. They are like piranhas and go after it. That got our offense going. We want to try and capitalize with our speed and transition game.
“The thing is that the girls came back and practiced hard after the loss the other night and that made me feel good. They came in today ready to go.”
Junior Hannah Remington added six points for the Cougars, who had all eight players score in the victory. Frani Gerst, one of five seniors, led LCA with seven rebounds.
Falk led Marquette with 11 points to go with 11 rebounds. Weber and fellow senior Sydney Mussman each added 10 points for the Blazers.
LCA shot 17-of-44 from the field and 15-of-26 from the line in the win. Marquette was 14-of-57 from the field and 7-of-17 at the line in the contest.
LCA (1-1) plays at Churubusco Tuesday night. The Cougars’ next home game is Nov. 27 versus Lakewood Park Christian. Marquette (0-1) hosts South Central Tuesday night.