State-ranked Lebanon rolls past Freeburg

It was another night, another win and another lesson learned for the undefeated Lebanon Greyhounds on Monday at Lebanon High School.

Freshman Emily Reinneck and sophomore Krista Bass connected on a 3-point field goals in the opening 40 seconds of the second quarter to pace a 10-0 Lebanon scoring run and the Greyhounds never threatened after that as they rolled to easy 49-31 win over the Freeburg Midgets.

Freeburg (2-6), getting six points from Lauren Thoma, trailed just 12-8 after one -quarter before the lightning quick Greyhounds were able to get their high-powered offense in gear. Reinneck, a poised 5-8 forward, scored eight of her points to key the Greyhounds spurt which ended with Lebanon holding a 28-13 halftime lead.

“We didn’t shoot the ball that well in the first quarter, but I think you have to credit Freeburg’s defense for some of that,” Greyhounds coach Chad Cruthis said. “They were talking and switching on defense and to be honest about it. We haven’t played many teams this year that have done that.”

“The more things we see now that we can work on as the season goes on will do nothing but help us down the road,” he added.

Krista Bass led the way for Lebanon (9-0) with 13 points while Kendra Bass and Reinneck added 12 points apiece. Lebanon was ranked seventh in the latest Associated Press Class 1A Girls State Basketball poll.

KEY SEQUENCE

Leading by just four points, Reinneck and Krista Bass changed the momentum in favor of the home town team on its first two possessions of the second period.

Playing before a large home crowd, Reinneck hit a 3-point shot from just the left of the top of the key and following a missed shot by Freeburg’s Julia Whitworth, Bass followed with a long 3-point jumper as the Greyhounds lead reached 18-8.

Senior Mallory Schmitt scored on a strong inside move and when Reinneck tallied again with just over four minutes left in the first half, Lebanon’s lead had grown to 22-8.

Freeburg finally got on the scoreboard when Jenny Homann made two free throws with 2:48 left in the second quarter to cut the lead to 20-10.

“I thought that was a big sequence in the game,” Cruthis said. “We came out and were able to knock down a couple of three-point shots by Emily (Reinneck) and Krista Bass. Then we got a couple of two-point baskets and all of a sudden we go from being up four points to being up 14 very quickly.”

“I think the closest Freeburg was able to get after that was maybe 10-11 points We did a good job.”

KEY PLAYERS

While Reinneck and the Bass sisters combined for 37 points, Freeburg was led by Thoma who scored nine points. But the story for the Midgets was turnovers and a lack of offense. Freeburg had 13 points and 13 turnovers in the first half.

“I was pleased at the effort. I thought our girls played hard,” Freeburg coach Lori Crunk said. “The thing about Lebanon is that you know what you’re going to see from them. They But 13 points and 13 turnovers in one-half..... you’re not going to beat many teams doing that.”

“We had some good looks at the basket in the first half. If we make a few more shots... maybe it’s a closer game,” the coach added.

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 11:26 PM with the headline "State-ranked Lebanon rolls past Freeburg."