Lady Coalers tested during MLK Shootout

    Coal City followed up their play in the Martin Luther King Shootout this past weekend, as they took on Seneca Monday night in conference action.
    The Lady Coalers fought hard against the Irish, but ultimately fell to a 43-31 decision, as they moved to 3-4 in the I-8 and 7-14 overall.
    Coal City kept the game close, only trailing by three points at the half, 20-17. However, it was the second half of the game that did the Lady Coalers in, as they just couldn’t keep pace with the opposition’s offense.
    Coal City managed just five points in the third quarter and nine in the fourth, while Seneca went on a nine-point run to put the game away.
    Bridget Kauzlaric put forth a solid effort, but unfortunately didn’t get much help on offense. She finished with 16 points on the night, along with six rebounds.
    Helen Onsen chipped in with four points, while Brooke Chapman, Hannah Flint and Makenna Crater each added three points. Olivia Skubic finished out the effort with two points.
    The three losses in a row this week have the Lady Coalers desperate for some retribution, as they prepare to enter the I-8 Conference Tournament this week.
    Coal City will enter the bracket as the eighth seed, and will face Westmont (9) in the opening round at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday in the competitive gym.
    If the Lady Coalers win, they will take on top-seeded Sandwich on Saturday at 5 p.m. The losing team will also play Saturday at 11:30 a.m. against either Wilmington (12) or Lisle (5) in the auxilary gym.
MLK Shootout
    The Lady Coalers hosted a Martin Luther King Shootout this past weekend, competing against Antioch and Marian Catholic on Saturday.
    “We had two very good tests today, and played well at times,” said Coal City  coach Brad Schmitt. “These games should help us be ready as we enter the last few weeks of our season.”
    The Lady Coalers kicked off the day with a game against Antioch, losing 42-35.
    Coal City held close through the first half, trailing at half-time by 17-16, and even pulled ahead in the third quarter.
    The Lady Coalers held a 29-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but Antioch went on a 10-point run in the final frame, as Coal City suffered the seven-point loss.
    Kauzlaric accounted for 15 of the team’s points, earning eight of her points from the free-throw line with 8-for-11 shooting. She also pulled down 12 rebounds.
    She was followed by Onsen who added eight points, while Crater and Flint tallied four points each.
    Skubic and Lindsay Stopka rounded out the effort with two points each.
    In the second game of the day, Coal City couldn’t keep pace with a quick-shooting Marian Catholic team.
    The Lady Coalers wound up losing 52-31, after getting outscored 40-13 in the first half.
    Coal City out-shot Marian 18-12 in the second half, but the damaged had already been done.
    The Lady Coalers struggled from the floor in the second game, shooting just 21.9 percent from inside, 19 percent from the perimeter and 50 percent from the charity stripe.
    In total, Kauzlaric led the team with 10 points, while Chapman and Crater each tacked on six points.
    Flint chipped in four, Sam Olson contributed three points, and Onsen finished with two.