Second Half Struggles Doom Lady Panthers

For one half of the play it appeared on that the Lady Panthers of Clara Barton High School would get its first signature victory of the season over the Wingate Campus Lady Generals. However, everything changed for Barton in the final two quarters of last night's game.

The Lady Panthers entered Monday's game knowing they would have their hands full against Alisha Ogbewele and Wingate Campus.  Ogbewele is the leading scorer in the Brooklyn A East Division averaging 24.4 points per game.  During the first two quarters of the game Barton shut down one of the best scorers they will face all season.  The Lady Panthers held Ogbewele to just three first half points as they jumped out to a 20 to 9 halftime lead.

However, in the second half the Wingate captain scored 20 of her game high 23 points and the Lady Generals came back to knock off Barton 39 to 33. "That killed us," said Barton head coach Michael Bedell of Ogbewele's second half performance.  "She is a good player and you have to give credit where credit is due.  That was the difference in the game."

After scoring 20 first half points the Lady Panthers (2-3) mustered only 13 points in the second half including six in the fourth quarter.   Barton led the entire way until three minutes remaining in the final quarter.  With the score tied at 31 points, Diana Deroche (10 points) knocked down a field goal for the Lady Panthers but was called for traveling. Ogbewele scored on the following Wingate possession and the Lady Generals never relinquished the lead.  Barton would score one field goal over the final three minutes and were unable to capitalize on three forced turnovers.

While the team was disappointed with the loss their head coach said he believes the Barton girls basketball program is headed in the right direction. 

"I look at it (the loss) as a positive because the girls felt as though they weren't ready earlier to compete with a quality team.  They looked at it today like they can perform," Bedell said.

 "The players were not happy with it," he added.  "That tells me that they want more and they were not satisfied.  We were up three quarters but we lost the game.  It shows me they are hungry, gaining confidence and playing better."

Barton will look to play better in a rivalry game as they head across the street to battle the Lady Cardinals of Prospect Heights Campus (0-4) on Thursday.