GAME TIME FEATURES RETURNING HAWKS

   GAME TIME FEATURES RETURNING HAWKS

By League Commissioner Randy Larson

The fourth night of games in the 2012 Game Time League featured a big win fueled by more playing time for 2 Hawks that are returning from injuries that have limited their minutes this summer.  Morgan Johnson has suffered from jumper's knee for 2 years but showed she's still very effective, with 13 points and 5 rebounds, shooting 6-8 from the field, even though she only played about 18 minutes.  Theiarra Taylor, who had arthroscopic surgery 2 months ago to remove scar tissue and a cyst from one of her knees that have suffered 3 ACL surgeries in the last 3 years, looked graceful, determined and talented.  She scored 12 on 6-11 shooting and not only led her team in rebounding with 9, but also tied for the team-lead in assists with 5.  She did all that in only about 23 minutes of action, as she and Johnson are playing limited minutes for their Cullen Painting/Monica's and Bob's your Uncle team, which won 83-67. 

Coach Randy Larson said "I am so delighted with both their physical progress but with their attitudes and unselfishness as well.  I told Theairra not everybody that can create for themselves ever learns to end the play with a pass rather than forcing it and she's learned it.  And Morgan is so efficient; we don't get her the ball very well yet because teams are trying to take her away and in a summer league it's hard to set up plays, but when she gets it she's awfully good.  She always passes out of the double-teams, and tonight we shot it well on the pass out." 

Cullen/Monica's/Bob's featured great balance, as Megan Hayes and Melanie McCreight had 10, Hannah Breitbach had 12 along with Taylor, Johnson had 13, and Jessie Pauley and Brittni Donaldson, both of UNI, had 8 and 7, as did UNI teammate Jessica McDowell. 

Their opponent, Coralville Hy-Vee, was led by UNI sharpshooter Brooke Browne with 17 points, 5 boards, and constant scrappiness.  Juco transfer to Iowa Kathy Thomas was also effective at both ends, with 14 points and 6 assists, and her running mate at guard Senior Trisha Nesbitt from Iowa was also very good offensively and defensively, scoring 12, mostly on 8-8 shooting from the line.  They could not overcome getting outscored from 3 by 33-24 and especially being out-rebounded 49-26.


In the 2nd game of the evening the Vinton Merchants/McCurry's team was victorious 76-51 in a game that was close until the end.  Samantha Logic, despite being hounded by UNI's ultra-intense point guard Sharnae Lamar all game had 23 points on 8-16 on 2's, 1-2 on 3's, and 4-6 from the line.  She had 7 rebounds and 4 assists.  She started off looking for her teammates on penetration drives, but with the Cullen team staying home on her teammates, put the game away in the second half by looking to score more herself.  She also continually led a good fast-break all game.  Her twin-towers up front Mackenzie Westcott and Amber Kirschbaum had 19 and 14, to give them 3 good scorers. 

The loser was LL Pelling/Culver's and they were led by Bethany Doolittle with 21 points on 9-15 shooting.  She had 7 rebounds, with swingplayer from UNI Steph Davison having 8 boards and 18 points, and UNI post Alyssa Johnson grabbing 10 boards.  Pelling just couldn't hit enough outside shots to stay in reach, as Steph made 4-10 but her teammates went 0-12, and the team shot just 18-43 from 2 as well.  Sharnae Lamar collected 6 assists to go with her outstanding defense, with Davison and Johnson each having 4.  The teamwork was excellent for Pelling and they tied Vinton on the boards, but poor shooting was too much to overcome this night.  They trailed 33-28 at half. 

Game Time continues next Monday July 16, Wednesday July 18, Monday July 23 and the championship game Wednesday July 25 at 6 pm.  Games are at 6 and 7:30 and admission at the air-conditioned North Liberty Rec Center is free.  Full information and statistics can be found at http://www.primetimeleague.com/.