Published: January 09, 2009 06:26 am      

RENNIE GETS IT: Lady Rams win milestone victory No. 600 for coach

By PAUL T. WILCOXEN

paul.wilcoxen@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Down nine in the fourth quarter it looked as if the Lady Rams would have to wait until their next game for coach Sara Rennie to reach 600 wins for her career.

However, things changed quickly as Mt.. Vernon used a 22-11 fourth quarter including a stretch where they outscored Cahokia 15-2, en route to a 51-48 come from behind win at Changnon Gymnasium on Thursday.

“You cannot fault their desire and heart they played with tonight,” said Rennie. “They really wanted this game badly and I think [that’s why] you saw them play so well.”

The win avenges a loss from Dec. 1 when the Lady Rams traveled to Cahokia and succumbed to a 61-60 loss in the team’s first South Seven Conference game of the season.

With Thursday’s win, Mt. Vernon is now 3-2 in the conference with consecutive SSC wins over Marion and Cahokia.

“They played two great games back-to-back and hopefully things are going to start to turn around a little bit and have a good second half of our season,” Rennie noted..

The Lady Rams used a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to overtake the Comanches.

Haley Randolph stepped to the free throw line with 3:01 to play and knocked down a pair to give Mt. Vernon the lead for good, 44-43.

Jacquelyn Backstrom finished with one of her better all-around performances of the season as the junior poured in 12 points and seven boards.

“I thought Jacquelyn Backstrom played a whale of a game from start to finish,” Rennie noted. “She had an unbelievable game. She’s been telling me all day that we were going to win. I’d just kind of smile and say, ‘okay.’

“She really took it to task. For 32 minutes she just played so hard.”

With 4:37 left in the game, the Lady Comanches led 43-36.

That’s when Mt. Vernon opened a 10-0 run beginning with a baseline jumper from Backstrom.

Afterwards, Alaina Reeves came off the bench and provided solid minutes late in the fourth quarter and contributed a weak side offensive rebound and stick back to cut into Cahokia’s lead, 43-40.

Reeves’ field goal would be the Lady Rams’ last, but another stellar performance at the free throw line in the fourth quarter helped seal the win.

“I don’t know how we did it, to be honest,” said Rennie. “I just know we did it.

“Mariah Fleming decided to take this team on her shoulders at the beginning of the fourth quarter.”

Fleming scored eight of her team-high 15 points during the final eight minutes of action..

After Moriah Kirkpatrick knocked down a 15-foot jumper to open the fourth quarter, Fleming connected on Mt. Vernon’s only three in the game to cut into the Lady Comanches’ lead, 38-34.

Fleming later brought Mt. Vernon to within a point on the scoreboard, 43-42, with two free throws.

As Cahokia was trying to trigger the ball in from out of bounds, Backstrom intercepted the pass, gave it up to Randolph, who was fouled, sending the sophomore to the line for two shots and a chance to put Mt. Vernon up one.

With poise Randolph dropped both through the cylinder giving the Lady Rams the lead, 44-43.

Coach Rennie believes a team effort was used to collect the victory.

“Haley Randolph came up with some big steals,” said Rennie. “Ronita [Long] rebounded well. Alaina Reeves comes off the bench and does a great job of taking care of the ball and getting a stick back there in a missed shot.

“Moriah Kirkpatrick was scoring big for us tonight and playing the whole game without getting a break.”

Cahokia was led by Joanna Coleman’s game-high 23 points. Fleming finished with 15 for Mt. Vernon.

The win improves the Lady Rams’ record to 4-10.

“The credit goes all to my players because they wanted this game so badly,” said Rennie.

Mt. Vernon will travel to Troy to take on Triad on Saturday for a 1 p.m. JV start.

The JV Lady Rams defeated Cahokia at home Thursday, 38-34. Jessica Green scored 13 in the victory.



Girls Basketball

CAHOKIA (48) — Joanna Coleman 10-20 1-2 23, Alva’nita Mosby 1-4 0-0 2, Jocelyn Ford 2-4 0-0 5, Whitney Henderson 1-6 1-2 3, Fredricka Walker 5-12 3-6 13, Victoria Quarles 0-3 0-0 0, Talisa Watson 0-0 0-0 0, Patria Hill 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 20-51 FG, 5-10 FT, 48 TP.

MT. VERNON (51) — Haley Randolph 3-5 3-4 9, Moriah Kirkpatrick 3-10 1-2 7, Jacquelyn Backstrom 4-8 4-6 12, Ronita Long 2-11 2-4 6, Mariah Fleming 3-9 8-9 15, Beloved Porter 0-1 0-0 0, Alaina Reeves 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 16-36 FG, 18-25 FT, 51 TP.

Cahokia. . .14 10 13 11 - 48

Mt. Vernon.6 8 15 22 - 51

3-pointers: Cahokia 1-3 (Coleman 0-1, Ford 1-2); MV 1-6 (Kirkpatrick 0-1, Backstrom 0-1, Fleming 1-4). Rebounds: Cahokia 22 (Walker 10); MV 32 (Long 12). Team fouls: Cahokia 17, MV 12. Fouled out: Cahokia, Mosby; MV, Long. Turnovers: Cahokia 12; MV 19.