GIRLS SECTIONAL: Taylor vs. Madison-Grant

Taylor shoots for 3rd straight sectional title

By PEDRO VELAZCO Tribune sportswriter

Taylor’s girls basketball team rolls into the Class 2A Oak Hill Sectional with a superb 17-3 record, the No. 3 ranking in the state, and two straight sectional titles to its credit.

But if Taylor makes it three straight championships this week, this one might be the toughest of them all.

The field at Oak Hill is loaded this year with Eastbrook (16-4), Oak Hill (14-6) and Northwestern (14-6) all boasting strong records and a fighting chance at unseating the two-time defending champions.

“From a fan’s standpoint, it should be a dandy,” Taylor coach Dennis Bentzler said of the sectional. “It’s going to be something to watch. The teams are evenly matched and I really think [there are] at least four teams that could win it and, in the tournament, you can’t count anyone out so Madison-Grant and Eastern are going to give their best.

“If we win it, it would be the toughest sectional we’d have won in the last three.”

Play begins today as Eastbrook and Eastern meet in the 6 p.m. game, with Madison-Grant vs. Taylor following at approximately 7:45. Oak Hill and Northwestern meet in the bye bracket on Friday.

Taylor owns victories over MG, Eastern, Oak Hill and Northwestern this season, but didn’t face Eastbrook. Northwestern coach Mike McCroskey thinks the sectional is loaded, but that the Titans are the team to beat.

“There’s no question Taylor’s the favorite,” he said. “They’re two-time defending champion, they’ve beaten us and also Oak Hill during the season, but I feel like Eastbrook, Northwestern and Oak Hill are probably all about even with each other and I feel like on any given night any of us have a shot at Taylor.”

After last year’s run to the semistate, the Titans have high goals. On the one hand, Bentzler makes a concerted effort to see that the Titans don’t feel burdened by pressure or expectations, noting that they’ve played so well for so long, they should have nothing but pride regardless of when the season ends. On the other hand, every day in the lockerroom, the kids see a picture of themselves playing off-season ball in Conseco Fieldhouse. It’s a reminder of their biggest goal.

“We do talk about it, boy you can only hope for one more chance in the semistate like we had last year to try to get to Conseco Fieldhouse,” Bentzler said. “We have that picture pasted on the wall in the lockerroom.

“They remember that that’s on their mind, but my goal as a coach is to get them to understand we’re a long way from that point. There’s a good chance we night not get there, but there’s a good chance we will. We’ll be OK if we play well and we’re going to play some good basketball teams along the way.

“We’ve still got some talent left, but this might be the last realistic chance to get to that point.”

The road begins with Madison-Grant. The Titans blasted MG 61-27 on Jan. 10 but the Argylls played without one of their main weapons, senior forward Tiffany Colburn. Bentzler expects for Colburn and sophomore Cady Riggs to be difficult to handle.

That’s also what Taylor aims to be, difficult to handle. The Titans pledge to play their game and force opponents to deal with it.

“We’re not going to change anything,” Bentzler said. “This team’s forte is to play 84 feet for 32 minutes and force people to match our athleticism and speed. The key for us is we’ve got to execute in the half court when people get us slowed down.

“This is the way we’re going to play and if you can match that athleticism and intensity and quickness for 32 minutes, you have a chance.”

Morgan McWhorter and Jamie Dunlap score in double digits to lead a deep Titan squad. Bentzler pointed to his team’s depth and ability to change with the game as assets.

“I feel like this year more than any other year, we were able to adjust,” he said. The coach noted that frontliner Brianne Christophel is playing well and that several girls are giving opponents fits off the bench. “We have a lot of kids that can contribute and that’s where I think we hurt a lot of teams, with our depth.”