WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Women's Basketball: Hillsdale vs. Findlay, 01/25/25

Episode Date: January 26, 2025

Women's Basketball: Hillsdale vs. Findlay, 01/25/25Lewis Thune and Paden Hughes on the call for WRFH

The following is a special presentation of WRFH Sports. Crowd is roaring. It's a sold-out game here. Takes the three. Paying a lot later in the year. Two shots to layup bounces off the left side of the rim. Offensive rebound. Sidney Mills puts it back up and end. There's that size advantage, easy layups.

Still charge your basketball on Radio Free Hillsdale, 101.7 FM. starts now. Sports and athletics complex at Hillsdale College. Here at the Dawn Tibbitts Potter Arena as we gear up to present today's GMAC contest between the Hillsdale Chargers and the visiting Oilers of Findlay. Alongside Peyton Hughes, I'm Lewis Thune. Hillsdale entering today's matchup at 17 and 12 on the season.

Finlay comes in at 16 and 4 in what's sure to be a great match. of today in the Greater Midwest Athletic Conference. Well, Payton, Hillsdale's coming into this game, having had their eight-game win streak broken previously by Walsh. What do you think we'll see today out of Hillsdale to try and rebound from that tough loss on the road at Woll? That tough loss was actually at Ashland. That was a 5970 loss.

It's quite unfortunate for the Hillsdale Chargers, as they had that eight-game win streak, as you mentioned, but it was broken by allowing over 70 points to Ashland. The Hillsdale College Women's Team is one in five when allowing over 65 points. That's something that we cannot see today, and I hope that we can get that defense up and moving against Finley. That's right. Hillsdale Women's Team is allowing 69 points a game on average,

and as you just observed, when they allow over 65, it's a bad record on the year. So defense really is the key for this Hillsdale women's team. They're going to have to hold this Finley team. They're going to have to stop them on the boards. They'll stop them on the court. The starting lineups are beginning to make their way out on the court here. And Payton, did you catch up on the starting lineups here for Hillsdale? For the Hillsdale Chargers, number three, Lauren McDonald.

What a great year for her this year, leading in almost every category. Number 15. Kendall McCormick, the guard. Up next, number 21, Savannah Smith, the six foot forward from Liberty, Ohio. Up next, number 30, Caitlin Splain, the 5-9 guard senior. She's had a great year. She's attempting six three-pointers per game.

She's definitely the sharpshooter on the team. And last of all, number 40, Emma Rulman, The 510 guard from Warren, Pennsylvania. She's a junior and she's been having a great season, mainly coming off the bench. That's right. Those Dale Williams team looks energized. Rina looks happy. They're certainly overjoyed to be back here at home with the friendly crowd, starting lineup on their way out.

And as you said, Lauren McDonald has really been the leader for this team in almost every statistical category. transfer from Air Force. You have Smith anchoring the defense in the paint and Caitlin Splain that secondary guard. Some tremendous speed there. For Findlay, looks like they've sent out

number 14, Morgan Hunt and the tip. Along with the tip goes in the way of Findlay. And they immediately set to work, passing me around the key. Two-point shot is up in the air, and no good. Hillsdale takes the rebound. And McDonald looks to control the pace at the top of the key.

Ball, past a spleen, deflected out-of-bounds. Way of Findlay. Change of possession here is Finley will take the ball. Still a zero-zero-zero game. You've seen the early game jitters from both teams. A couple lazy passes on the first possession there from Findlay. Hillsdale hands it right back to them. We have the top of the key, Stanley controlling the ball.

Passes to Kate Ellis. Wow, what you saw right there is a great movement around the arc. Inside and a great one-on-one even through the help defense from the Chargers. That's right. Alyssa Zeeler, he's starting forward there for Finley, put in a basket off of a nice of assist from the Chargers. Chenet Hoyt. Shot up in the air by Smith. Long two-pointer is no good. It's rebounded there by the Chargers. They look to set up McDonald drives right off of the rebound. And again, another rebound there for the Chargers.

Three-pointer in the air from McCormick. It's good. And the Chargers are on the board. Three to two. It's a really nice offensive rebounding there from Hillsdale to get this game started and get the Chargers on the board. Findlay now with the ball. Hillsdale backcourt. Top of the key. It's Janay Hoying. Passes to Callahan. And once again, center court. It's Kate Ellis. Kate Ellis with the two-pointer from the paint. No good. Rims out. Rebound by McDonald. Hillsdale moving the ball up the court. I've seen a patient offense here from Hillsdale as they're moving the ball around the top of the key, really not rushed. Entry pass for by McDonald into Smith and the paint.

It's reversed out to McDonald. McDonald dribbles in. Entry pass here, and we have a jump ball called. Looks like Ellis was able to get her hands on the ball there. And jump ball called, Rulman with simultaneous possession. Possession is to Hillsdale, so they'll inbound from under their own basket here.

McDonald passes out to Zulman, top of the key to McCormick. The three is no good, rebounded by Findlay. Control the ball here with seven minutes and 30 seconds left in the first period. Finley moving the ball around the top of the key. Attempt at an entry there. And no good. Still moving around the top.

The shot is attempted by number 44, Alyssa Zeler. That was really just a rough. A rush shot there, Lewis. It was 44 had to put it up with no real offense moving. just take a 15-footer. 15-footer is no good for Fendley, and despite that early basket, they've yet to put anything up. That Hillsdale defense hasn't been putting a lot of pressure on the ball,

a more relaxed and conservative defense, but they've been able to keep up with Fendley, keep them out of the pains, and for that they've held them in these early possessions in the game. And it looks like checking in for the Chargers, we've got number 24 Ellie Bruce in for civilians. Vana Smith and number 13 Maryland Popalwell also checking in for the chargers they set a defensive possession here the penetration by Findlay and it's good from number 13 Jene Hoying finley moves up four to three

McDonald dribbles right up and attempts a three lacks defense there at the top of the key but it's no good for McDonald. Finley takes the ball Six minutes to go here in this first period. Penetration by Findlay. Kate Ellis puts up a shot, but it's deflected. And a foul called there on the play. Fow on Lauren McDonald. What you saw there was a little ISO.

Iso taken right to the hoop. Lauren McDonald got caught standing still. Had to put her hands down, come down on the shot. And now we see the free throws. First one is not good. entirely characteristic for number 15 k Ellis she's shooting well over 85% this year the second shot is good that puts finley up five to three over your hillsdale chargers finley's been a solid team from the line this year and that is he taking advantage of mistake there from hillsdale a foul

inside hillsdale does get the best out of it though that's a one point possession and not a two Popple well, top the key, passes to Swain, and to McDonald. McDonald controlling the ball. Again, the top score here for this Hillsdale offense as Hillsdale looks to break this drought. McDonald puts up a three, and it's good. Warren McDonald hits the three for Hillsdale, putting them back ahead, six to five. Hillsdale trusts McDonald there at the top of the key, putting together screens, but Finley takes the ball right back, and again, it's number 15, Kate Ellis.

takes the ball up the court, penetrates, and makes the shot. Seven to six, Finley. And a quick hands there. As Hillsdale advances the ball up the court, it's Chloe Callahan for Finley. That's the ball out of bounds off Hillsdale. So Finley will take over here.

Taylor Stanley with the ball at the top of the key for Finley. Passes to Elameshire. And back to Stanley. Looks like we have a moving screen foul there on Finley from number 20 Elameshire and that ball will go to Hillsdale Finley's trying

trying hard as they can to set something up there around the perimeter try and get some penetration on the point of their point guard Taylor Stanley but just nothing going so far their offense has been running

through Kate Ellis to this point and it's been mostly just through speed on the dribble Hillsdale takes over now McDonald with the ball at the top of the top of the key 15 seconds on the shot clock the entry passes to ellie bruce and the shot is no good rebounded by finley moves to run in the fast break but hillsdale gets back on defense finley settles around the perimeter

balls controlled up top by number 13 jane hoying the shot is up by number 12 callahan and no good rebounded again by hillsdale whistle is blown can't quite tell what's going on down on the court It looks like it's an... Ah, yes, we got a timeout called. It looks like timeout was called by Hillsdale in order to get some substitutions in. To Chargers Basketball on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. Is there anything wrong with being a good sport?

Helping an opponent up after knocking them down? Sincerely congratulating the other team after the game. win or lose. Showing respect for referees, it's how we should act every day at every game because nothing beats good sportsmanship. To learn more about sportsmanship, visit the MHSAA website, a message from the Michigan High School Athletic Association, promoting the value and values of educational athletics. The benefits of playing multiple sports from the youth level through high school are being proven even by those who've made it to the so-called next level. More college coaches won multi-sport athletes and nearly 90% of the players taken in the recent pro football draft

played multiple sports through high school. To learn more about multi-sport participation, visit the health and safety page of the MHSAA website. A message from the Michigan High School Athletic Association, promoting the value and values of educational athletics. So we welcome you back here to Don Tibbitts Potter Arena after a timeout from the Chargers as they trail 7-6 against the visiting Oilers of the... of Finley. Hilsdale will have the ball here as we resume from the break. It's going to be inbounded to Lauren McDonald.

And Hillsdale will look to set something up. We have an off ball screen for Hillsdale. No entry here as they move the ball around the perimeter. Annalise Petrizzik passes to Lauren McDonald. Deflection, corralled by Ellie Bruce. Odd play there. Finley was able to deflect a pass, but Ellie Bruce grabbed it right in the center of the paint and put up an easy layup unguarded.

And Finley with a turnover trying to get the ball off and off ball screen was number two, McKenzie Schultz, and a pass was just thrown straight out of bounds. Looks like she was trying to get the ball to number 13 Jene Hoying, and no dice getting off the off ball screen for Jene Hoying. Pass sales out of bounds. Hillsdale takes it up the court, moves around the perimeter. Kendall McCormick attempts the shot, no good.

Finley gets the ball now here with three and a half left to go in the first period. Moving the ball around the perimeter. Nothing going here for Findley. The shot clock winds down. dribble move and the ball is stolen there by Emma Rulman for Hillsdale. Finley just couldn't get anything going inside. Had to take a desperate drive as time wound down. Caitlin Splain for Hillsdale attempts the three no good.

Finley back up the court, running in the fast break, and a foul is called there on the shot by Jemais Hoing against Hillsdale as Hoying will go to the line, putting up two shots for the Finley Oilers. Fow called on Kendall McCormick, and what we're saying here is some very tight man defense. It's leading to a lot of isolators. situations one-on-one where offense is making a lot of bad mistakes and the defense is forced into bad situations we've seen a lot of turnovers from both sides already some passes and deflections passes straight out of bounds and what it's led to is really sloppy play so far it's game-tied

at eight eight looks like finley's trying to run that fast break as much as they can they're sprinting up court off the rebounds trying to catch the hillsdale defense off guard and well it hasn't been super effective yet. It's gotten them to the line as Hillsdale takes the ball and lazy pass inside. We have a loose ball and it's called off of Ellie Bruce for the Chargers. And Finley will take the ball again, forcing another Hillsdale turnover. It's really been a story here as Hillsdale has been trying to get the ball inside. We've seen some deflected passes and Chargers just haven't been able to corral the ball off those deflections. We saw the one, We saw the one instance, Ellie Bruce, catching a deflected pass, putting the ball in the hoop.

But nothing going for Hillsdale there on that offensive possession as Findlay will take over. Finley, again, moving the ball around the perimeter. Not a lot going on inside the pain. They pass around, attempted Enri to Zealman. No good. Shot is put up by number 11, Addison Freeman, to no avail as the shot clock expires. But the ball rolls off the hook to Findlay. Another miss shot there on the penetration by Kate Ellis.

And the ball is called out off of Findlay in an attempt to corral a rebound. And Hillsdale will take possession here with two minutes left in the first period. We're still seeing some very tight defense by Hillsdale. But what we had there was Finley, working hard, getting those rebounds. And now we're seeing some pressure from Finley in the full court. Hillsdale with another three attempt here from Caitlin off the handoff. from Savannah Smith, and it's no good, but rebounded there by Kendall McCormick. McCormick drives layup attempted.

Tough contest on that shot, and it's a miss. Rebounded by Finley, passed out to Kate Ellis. They run the fast break, but it's no good from Ellis. The shot is rebounded by Finley. McKenzie Schultz puts up the follow-up, and Finley leads 11-8. Again, we saw another fast break attempt there from it, Finley, and it worked quite well. at hillsdale defense is playing great defense around the perimeter but trouble getting back off miss shots on offense and finley's capitalizing on it so far savannah smith with the two-point shot from the free throw line it rims out close shot attempt there from smith but it's no good finley takes over on offense once again looking to extend this three-point lead it's a very conservative offense here from finley entry pass attempted to zealman blocked by smith zealman gets the ball again puts up a shot and it's not a very conservative offense here from finley entry pass attempted to zealman blocked by smith zielman gets the ball again puts up a shot and it's

No good. Rebounded by Smith. Some excellent interior defense there from Savannah Smith to prevent Finley from making that shot. It's 11-8 as we go under a minute here in the first period. Hillsdale passes out to Splane for the three-point shot and it's no good. Finley again running the fast break opportunity. Jene Hoyne controlling the ball all the way up the court. The shot is no good. Looks like we have a foul called on Savannah Smith attempting to grab the rebound.

against Alyssa Zeeler there down low. We're seeing a big fight between them down low. Lots of blocks between the two, lots of rebounds. Often neither of them come up with the ball. They're working hard down low. You're seeing a singular post player there by there for Finley with Alyssa Zeeler. The rest of the offense is moving the ball around the perimeter. It looks like they're trying to set up off ball screens in the post for Zeeler.

They really like that Smith-Zer matchup. The three attempted from Finley, Kenzie Schultz, and it's good. Schultz puts in her fifth point of the day. This one for three, and Hillsdale will hold the ball for the last shot here. Down 14-8 in period number one. Lauren McDonald, looks like she'll take an isolation play as the clock runs down under 10 seconds.

Screen set by Savannah Smith. McDonald drives, kicks out number 23. Annalise Petrissic, and the shot. Shot is no good there for free. Nice defensive possession there from Finley to close out the quarter. And Hillsdale trails 14-8. And we'll head into a momentary break. You're listening to Chargers Basketball on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.17.

F.F. With Janice Dean. Medical students from New Jersey who offer haircuts to patients makes the Dean's list. They call themselves the Bergen Barbers, named after the street in Newark, New Jersey, where the university hospital is located. The program was started a few years ago by a student name Veshali Ravakumar. He wanted to give haircuts detangling treatments and a shave for the men who were in the hospital for long periods of time. Veshali came up with the idea as a third year student while taking care of trauma surgery patients.

He saw one man's long matted hair and unruly beard making him uncomfortable. So he gathered supplies from the hospital and gave the patient a haircut. It meant such a great deal to the man and Veshali never forgot that. That's when the idea came for the Bergen Barbers and the doctors learned how to use a clipper and give a basic haircut. It's little things like that that sometimes make a big difference in someone's life. Janisdine, Fox News. And welcome back here as the Hillsdale Women's Basketball team is gearing up down at a second period here. against Finley at home, trailing 14 to 8.

An impressive first quarter from the Oilers looked a bit slow offensively to come out. But Payton, what adjustments did we see Finley make in order to grab a six-point lead here in the second period? Well, at the beginning of the game, they started coming out hot just in their normal offense. A lot of isolations, but they didn't do much with it. They couldn't score. They couldn't get in the paint. But what we saw was afterward, they rushed the ball immediately around. They cut in and they would pass out for a three.

They ended up making a couple of those. That leads to a six point lead. But what I want to see out of Hillsdale now is we got to get better shots. We're seeing four passes in that lead to turnovers as the ball gets a jump ball. Or they pass it back out and it gets deflected out of bounds. We need smarter passes. And what we're going to see now is number 23. Anna Petrazek up for three points for free throw.

Three free throws coming up. Oh yeah. Looks like Yes Oh my goodness At the end of the last quarter We saw her put up a three They called the foul

And now we have the free throws going up They called the foul with 0.1 seconds left In the quarter So Well the scoreboard says second period We're actually going to take three free throws here To end the first period for Hillsdale Petrizik makes the first two

And a third one Now this is a big momentum shifter for Hillsdale like to enter the second period on a three-point run. Feels like Finley's just giving you the bucket. And Petrizzik, she makes the third free throw, three-for-three, and that will bring us to an end of the first period. A little change of lens there for Finley. They were set to enter the second period with a six-point lead,

but it looks like a little careless foul. This time ran out, and Hillsdale will narrow that gap by half. So now it is 14 to 11 as we repair the scoreboard. to here. We are entering the second period, not the third. But wow, that's a big inflection point. How can Hillsdale capitalize off of that? It was stealing points there at the end of the quarter. I mean, Hillsdale has momentum again. They got those three points. They missed the three-pointer earlier, but they made all three-throes. Hillsdale's been missing shots all day long. Splane has not been able to get rolling from three. I believe she's over four. Hopefully we can get

some better shots. We don't have to force plane to take forced shots. We need to be working inside. We need to get low. We need put posts up from the box. And defensively, obviously you've seen Finley's transition game playing extremely well. How can Hillsdale guard this fast break of Finley that they've been

running this first quarter? What we're seeing is we're seeing three girls get down low on offense, but we're not getting much out of it. And so then we only have two players running back to play defense. Our girls got to get back faster if they want to play tighter defense and hold on. We also need to see some help defense going. We're seeing a lot of playing, man. We're not seeing

any switches. The women's team, they really just got to help each other out, and hopefully we don't get these one-on-one situations where they're driving to the hoop, and Finley ends up putting those in. You are seeing when Hillsdale shots go up, you'll have two, three girls in the paint and on the baseline, and that means having to run baseline to baseline on defense as opposed to just having to take a couple steps back into the back court, and Finley's taking full advantage of that as the second period comes to a start. Hillsdale will take the ball. McDonald with an entry pass into Smith. Shot is up. It's deflected by Alyssa Zeiler for Findlay, and Finley will take the ball.

Again, Finley passing around the top of the key. No penetration yet, but a very patient offense. Ten seconds left on the shot clock. Zeeler puts up a shot for Finley, fade away from the free throw line. and it's in. Finley's changing up their game plan here. They took a very slow possession, down to the 10-second mark.

They worked around outside until they could get that shot inside. That's a tough shot to make for Finley, and Hillsdale answers. Emma Rulman passed to Savannah Smith and a open two-point jump shot as Hillsdale will respond with two of their own, and Finley once again gets the ball.

Again, an extremely patient and conservative offense for Finley. they're waiting for shots to open up on the perimeter and one does in the corner for Addison Freeman but it is no good Splane takes the ball for Hillsdale dribbles back up court attempts of three and another miss from Splane good shooter for Hillsdale but hasn't been able to find a hoop yet today

but Hillsdale does corral the offensive rebound Emma Rulman puts up the two on a post-isolation play and the foul is charged to number 12 Chloe Callahan. Emma Rulman will go to the line. This is entirely uncharacteristic for Caden's Blaine. She's suiting over 34% from 3 on the year. She hasn't made one today so far. But now we see Emma Rulman on the line.

The first shot. Rulman can't cash in the first shot as it rolls around and rims out. She will have the second. here and with Savannah Smith down low for Hillsdale an offensive rebound is on the table here Rulman puts up the shot and it's good so Rulman goes one of two

from the charity stripe and Hillsdale narrows the deficit to two points it looks like they've moved into a full court zone very soft zone just trying to look to get an easy turnover they're not able to get back in time as Finley passes the ball breaks the press and

Taylor Stanley cashes in a penetration layup on Splain. It's now 18 to 14, Findlay. Hillsdale with the ball. Savannah Smith has it down low, off the entry pass from Splain. And it looks like Smith attempts to put up a shot there. And it's called a jump ball. Some great defense there from Zeller.

He's able to grab the ball as Savannah Smith went up for it. And so while Smith was in the air, ref blew the whistle called a jump ball. And possession goes to Findlay. Well, Lewis, now you're. full court press from the Hillsdale Chargers and a tough time from Finley trying to stop it. But they get across court, Lewis to you.

Again, you see that full court press from Hillsdale. That's another easy way to try and break this fast offense from Findlay is you try and mire them down in the back court. You've seen Finley break it once. They attempt again, the three up from Chloe Callahan, but it's no good. So it works.

They forced a bad three. from the corner and now Hillsdale slowed them down and got a bad shot and now it's their ball it's an interesting response from a head coach brianna breton to audible to that full court dress in order to slow down that Finley offense and we'll hope it'll work for the chargers here as Finley dribbles the ball up the court and into the front court the entry past to zeeler zeeler again with a two off a double team against smith and spain zealers playing well down low for Finley doing her job and she extends the Finley lead

to 20 to 14 6 point lead and the pass goes to McDonald for Hillsdale she puts up a three but it's no good Finley runs a fast break opportunity and foul is called on Lauren McDonald

close play down low again it was Taylor Stanley running the fast break the fast point guard there for Finley attempted to put up a shot and the foul was called on McDonald. Looks like she got her on the wrist as she was trying to make the transfer

into a shooting hand. So it'll be called a foul on the ground, not a shooting foul against Hillsdale. So Finley will inbound. And it looks like Finley's subbed in number 20 Ella Messcher for Alyssa Zeeler. Again, Zeeler's put in work down there in the paint for these first two periods.

So she earns a well-deserved rest for Finley. They look to create something around the top. of the key. Guards dribbling passing around. Oh my goodness. A tremendous, a tremendous penetration there from Jenei Hoeing. She takes the ball up into tough defense for a layup. Now you saw Jenae Hoeing in the corner gets a double screen as she rolls up to the top of the key and around leaving her isolated. She gets the foul and the two points and now we see the free throw. You're seeing some tremendous use of off ball screens. from Finley and Jenei Hoying with the great penetration she makes the shot she gets the foul and cash is in the free throw so that's that's a big blow to Hillsdale there you strung together a couple

decent defensive possessions and then just a great shot by Jene Hoying but Hillsdale will answer Ellie Bruce gets a short entry pass in the post dribbles back and cash is in the two-point shot Again, Hillsdale trying to close this deficit as the speed of Finley is just killing them right now. Another entry pass to Ellie Bruce and it looks like a push foul is called defensively on Finley offball. So Hillsdale will get to inbound here from under the basket, down seven. It's been a tremendous second quarter so far for Finley. A really, really spectacular offensive possession. What does Hillsdale have to do here to cash in, Ben?

I mean, they got to get the ball down low to Bruce. We're seeing her work to paint. She's shooting her sky hook, and it's been working. She just missed that shot there. What we need to see here on defense is Hillsdale use that help defense to their benefit. It worked on the last possession against Kate Ellis. She missed a shot, and now we're seeing Bruce alone. Bruce misses a hook shot.

Finley takes the rebound and dribbles it back to their side of the court. looks to make a quick possession here on an entry pass to Zeeler and it's no good. Hillsdale will grab the rebound so no harm there. Oh, spectacular move in the post there from Annalise Petrizik there for Hillsdale, but the shot is no good in close. She was able to fool her defender. Finley grabs the rebound, runs fast break once again, and Kate Ellis will convert the layup.

Hillsdale will call a timeout here with five minutes left in the second quarter. and down nine to Finley as they've come out of the gates strong here in this second quarter and really kept that fast break, those fast break buckets going. We'll take a small break here. You're listening to Chargers Basketball on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we're saving the English language 60 seconds out of time. I'm Lauren Smith, and I recently saw a book described as a non-per-ray. This puzzled me because, for one thing, the book was in English, so why use a friend?

word to describe it. Secondly, the English meaning of the term non-parais is usually candy. Yep, you heard that right. A non-paray is a small chocolate candy covered in sprinkles. Translated from French, it does actually mean unrivaled or matchless, which I think is what the writer meant. The only problem is that almost nobody knows that. To borrow some common advice from Strunken White's elements of style, just avoid foreign words in your writing. It makes you sound pretentious and it clouds the meaning unnecessarily for your reader. And if you're not careful, you might end up accidentally calling a book a food. That's your Grammar Minute. Visit thegrammerminut.com for more tips and tricks.

You're listening to Hillsdale, Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7. Finley leads Hillsdale 25 to 16. It is going to be Hillsdale ball down low. What we're seeing right now is speed, speed, speed. That is the name of the game. Finley has head. Pressure. The second they get the ball, they are sprinting down the court, and Hillsdale has not been able to keep up. Kate Ellis, Taylor, Stanley, and Alyssa Zeeler have worked the paint down low on those fast breaks, and it has led to a lot of points here, Lewis. That's right, Payton, and Hillsdale will look to respond as they get the ball here coming out of the timeout.

Petrusik, nothing going on the outside. Entry pass here to Ellie Bruce. Bruce takes another close shot in from the post. heavily contested there from Finley, but Bruce caches it in, earning herself another two points. It's now 25 to 18 Hillsdale, as Finley once again, this fast offense is looking to set up and catch Hillsdale off guard. Off ball screened. Passes around the top of the key of the number 13, Janay Hoying, who misses the three-point shot and it's rebounded for Hillsdale. A tough layup is attempted there in close on the fast break by Kendall McCormick. It's no good.

Loose ball. And it will remain Hillsdale ball under the basket. Ball is called out on Findlay as there was a little scramble after it. Hillsdale will inbound here. Petrizzik at the top of the key passes to Splane. Splane, the entry past to Savannah Smith. And foul is called against Alyssa Zeeler on Findlay. A little tough in there down low.

Zeeler gets called for a push. and Hillsdale will once again inbound and this is key for Hillsdale because Alyssa Zeeler offensively has been great for Finley converting very well so getting her into foul trouble would be an unintended plus for Hillsdale

and Caitlin Splein inbound's the pass receives bit back on a handoff from Savannah Smith and zero hesitation puts up a three it's in for Hillsdale The deficit is now four. Finley's offense looking to answer here, Hillsdale. Passes around the top of the key.

McKenzie Schultz to Taylor Stanley, entry into Alyssa Zeler again. And foul is called there on Hillsdale. Now what you're seeing here, Lewis, is that double screen offense back from the corner. We've seen Taylor Stanley use that before, but this time they didn't use the second screen. Off of the first screen, they passed it in to Alyssa Zeeler, and she was able to work the paint and draw the foul. The off ball screens for Findlay have worked so far in this game, but Hillsdale defense looks to be figuring them out here in the second period.

Ball is entered by Allie Stockton, passed into Alyssa Zeeler, and once again, Zeeler scores for Finley. Very nice post entry. Very good communication there from Findlay. Connection is made as Hillsdale takes the ball. Entry pass to Smith is stolen, and Finley will again try to run the fast break. And the referees whistleblows. Whistleblown on the near side of the court.

That's Taylor Stanley subbing out. Number 13, Janay Hoing on the court. Can't tell if a foul was called or not, but play was stopped momentarily. And another moving screen call, and that is on. Alyssa Zeller for Finley. So Zeeler with her second foul here in his many minutes. And Finley will choose to sub immediately number 22. Sophia Mokofisi is coming in for Alyssa Zeeler.

And that's a big substitution there. That is a big substitution. That is critical. With Zeeler out, it looks like Savannah Smith down low can actually make something happen. She's been blocked three times already by Zeeler. Zeeler's been making a difference offensively and defensively for Finley. So her checking out is a good sign for the Chargers, and immediately they capitalize. Annalise Petrusik gets in down low, makes a little shake and bake move and hits a fadeaway two-point shot.

So it's 2723. Hillsdale is closing the gap here. Findley enters the ball inside to the sub for Zeeler, Sophia Mokathisi, and the foul is called on Hillsdale. She got her own rebound there, put it back up, and got the foul. The first one was blocked by Savannah Smith. On the rebound, she gets the foul, and now it's Finley down low. Fowl was called on the ground. It looks like Smith got her as she was coming down with the ball.

Gillsdale won't surrender free throws here, but Finley will have another opportunity to score here. And with how well this offense has been playing, they'll look to make the most of it. The ball has moved around the perimeter. Another post entry to number 23 Alley Stockton, but it's no good. But we have a loose ball. tipped by multiple Hillsdale and Finley players. No one was able to get a clear hand on it, and the shot clock expires.

So Hillsdale, although they don't get the stop there, they're able to force the turnover on time. Caitlin Splane looking entirely breathless right now. She hustled right there, worked, forced Finley to lose possession. And there you see Splane attempting to make the post-entry pass, and it's deflected off of Finley foot. So that's a kick.

Not a foul, not a violation, but Hillsdale will keep the ball. They'll get to inbound it here. And that's big. And Splane is a guard and an extremely fast guard at that. And she's kind of been the energy for this Hillsdale team with Lauren McDonald out of the game. So her being tired out, it looks like the Hillsdale offense is going to have to work the post even more than they've already been doing. So they are working the ball around the court.

Rulman passes to McCormick back to Rulman. and there's the post entry to Ellie Bruce. Isolates. Kicked back out to Splane. Splane with a fadeaway three and makes it. As that shot clock was winding down, Splane got a pass from the post against tight defense, and she just put up the shot.

And Splane cashes in. You saw she wasn't able to make those threes early on in the first quarter, and now she seems to have made it. Finley takes the ball. entry to the post and it looks like a push is called on the shot so the shot goes in

but it's ruled that the shooter extended the arm too far against the defensive player and so the shot is waved off and Hillsdale gets the ball back down one point. The pass to Enelisse Patriczic and she hits the three immediately a quick possession

a three point and this game just swiveled on a dime. Hillsdale takes a 29, 27 lead after trailing by 11 here in this second quarter. A tremendous response from Hillsdale. And Finley, electing not to call the time out. They're going to try and score a bucket here with his offense. Errant pass around the top of key. Finley again looking for that post entry, but it's not there. Two seconds left on the shot clock. Shot is thrown up and deflected by Hillsdale. Addison Freeman tried to put it in,

but the tight defense around the perimeter by Hillsdale and they're able to force another shot clock violation. Hillsdale has just completely seized the momentum here in the second half. Payton, that was a stellar defensive position. Stellar defensive position. And what it started with was Finley slowing down their offense. They didn't have a fast break. They wanted to play the clock, and they got beat for it. Hillsdale played tight. They played Helpman defense down low. The ball couldn't get down for the post. Had to be passed back up and they couldn't do anything with it. So now Hillsdale will have an opportunity to drain as much clock as possible before the last shot. They take it here, taking the clock down to 15 seconds.

The shot is missed by Emma Rulman. Finley will have 10 seconds here to put a shot in. The three is attempted by number 13, Jene Hoing. It's no good, rebounded by Hillsdale, and they will let the half expire. Happily so with a two-point lead here as we had it tapped on 29, 27. Baden, what did we see there from Hillsdale in the second half of that second quarter to completely change the narrative of this game. Like I said just a second ago, you saw Finley slowing down their speed.

I said this at the beginning of the quarter. They needed speed, speed, speed, speed. That was the name of the game. Hillsdale could not keep up. But right now, Finley slowing down, they're allowing Hillsdale to have help defense down low. Finley can't rely on their post play. Hillsdale has been able to work the ball around on offense,

get some good shots. We've seen Caitlin's playing get rolling with a lot. three point and now Hillsdale leaves 2927 so presumably the message going into the half for Hillsdale is head coach Brianna Brennan enters the locker room is going to be we have to guard the fast break but in the closing minutes of that in the of that second quarter hillsdale was completely able to get the offense clicking shut down Finley and now this game is a lot closer so what do you think Finley's going to say here at halftime what adjustments do they have to make in order to make their own comeback against this Hillsdale team that suddenly sees the momentum.

Finley needs to move the ball around. They need to get down court fast. They need to employ those fast breaks. And then they need to get the ball to Alyssa Zeeler. She's been out for the last couple minutes and it has showed. Let Zeeler work in the paint and let her play her game. So that slow offensive Finley was relying on post entries early. And then you saw Zeeler check out, game swiveled on a dime.

So that's where we'll leave it here as we'd. take a break for halftime. It is 29 to 27 Hillsdale, and we've got 10 minutes or so until the second half begins. You're listening to Chargers basketball on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7Found as the charges lead by two entering halftime, and we'll see you on the other side of the break. And welcome back here to Hillsdale Women's Basketball here at the dawn. on Tibbitts Potter Arena as we prepare for the second half here between the Hillsdale Chargers and the Finley Oilers in a close game, 2927, in favor of Hillsdale. And this first half was quite the half of basketball.

On the Finley side, you saw their two leading scorers, Kate Ellis, Alyssa Zeler. No change in the story there from the first half of the season. It was the two leaders on their team, and it showed on the court. But on the Hillsdale side, Peyton, there was something else entirely going on. Something else entirely. Now, for the majority of the half, Caitlin Splain could not hit from three points. She's normally over 33%. She's the most reliable shooter on the team.

Hillsdale had to find a different answer. And what we've seen is a lot of play from everyone on the team. McDonald has a few points, not as many as she normally has. We've seen Petrazek get in. We've seen McCormick. We've seen Savannah Smith. And we've seen Ellie Bruce, which she's been coming off the bench for a lot of the season, but tonight she has worked really well in the paint.

No one has been able to stop her. She has put her will on the court, and it has showed. And what we need to see, as Blaine has gotten better throughout the half, we saw the post opening a little bit more, especially with Alyssa Zeler coming out for Finley. We need to keep Alyssa Zeler in foul trouble and keep her off the court. So the post opens up a little bit more, and then Hillsdale Charger Basketball. We'll continue to score. You've seen throughout the year,

Lauren McDonald has been the leader of this team in virtually every statistical category, but that comeback in the second quarter in its latter half for Hillsdale was done without Lauren McDonald on the field. The team was really able to rally around the bench. He had players like at least Petrissic in there, just completely changing the narrative of the game.

It looked like this game was solidly in the court of Finley heading it a halftime, and then it swiveled and it swiveled completely fast. So now, Hillsdale's entering the second half with a massive dose of momentum in their favor. And with Lauren McDonald back on the court, it can only hope it goes on. But Payton again, it's also been a very defensive game. It's 29, 27. And as we said before the game, when it's a defensive contest, that's when Hillsdale shines bright and shows out.

Exactly. And when Hillsdale scores over 65 points, Hillsdale's 8 and 3. It's been a great year for them when they maintain keeping other. teams below 65. And they have set 27 right now. You double that. They're at 54. This is a great time for Hillsdale.

And if they can keep this defense up and if they can hold Alyssa Zeeler from really working in the paint, I think we're going to see a great second half from Hillsdale. Finley offense will have to pick up in order to win this game. As you observe, when the Hillsdale defense is clicking, Hillsdale wins. But that 65 point margin is really a great way to view this season. when it's an offensive battle Hillsdale doesn't tend to win. So here they are as we enter the third quarter

with Hillsdale possession, up to Lauren McDonald on the court with Splain, Rulman, Smith, and Kendall McCormick. Lauren McDonald will attempt a three after moving the ball around the top of the key and Lauren McDonald cashes in.

She's back on the court and immediately makes it known 32-27 Hillsdale as Finley will look to answer. Alyssa Zeeler on the court for Finley, their leader in the post. Errant pass, but Finley carrals it and moves it back around the perimeter. Another errant pass and bounces Finley's way once again. Two seconds on the shot clock. Zeeler puts up the shot.

It's blocked by Smith and Hillsdale will take the ball. Once again, the shot clock winds down and kills a Finley possession. Hillsdale takes it back up the court. Caitlin Splean dribbles puts up a tough floater from just inside the three-point line. It's no good. Finley running the fast break. And it works once again, Lewis. They got the ball right out to the side.

Hillsdale was not back in time and they were able to make an easy three. Chloe Callahan on a three-point shot for Finley. You don't normally see three shot in the fast break, but evidently Finley was feeling confident and Chloe Callahan cast it in. So here's Hillsdale, once again, after Finley answers their three to begin the half, it's Caitlin Spleyne with the ball up top, shoots a step-back three.

My goodness, what a shot off the dribble from Caitlin Splain as she makes the three answering Finley's three with a three of her own. It's 35-30, Hillsdale, and now you're seeing that three-point offense for Hillsdale start to rear its head. Savannah Smith with the block. was Taylor Stanley point guard there for Finley tried to put up an easy two-pointer and Smith

sprinting there on defense deflect that ball out of bounds off the block so it'll be Finley's ball inbounding and an entry past to Zeeler immediately but it's tipped away Hillsdale forcing a turnover and it will be Hillsdale ball as they move ball up court Caitlin's blame top of the top of the key to ruleman entry past to Smith Smith Smith Fakes, drives, layup, it's good. Savannah Smith, scoring there on Alyssa Zeeler, and Taylor will take in a, or Finley, rather,

will take a time out after inbounding the ball to Taylor. So, Finley does not come out of the gates in the second half strong, or perhaps Hillsdale just came out stronger as they extend that lead from 2 to 7. It's 3730. Peyton, what happened there? What happened is Savannah Smith started to play? We didn't see much out of her in the first half. Rather, Ellie Bruce, the forward, that had to play down low, was having to pick up her slack.

But Savannah Smith, in three possessions for Finley, had two blocks. Sorry, in four possessions, he had two blocks and a deflection. And then he comes back down the court and works in the post and gets some more points. She's by far the most impactful player on the court right now. We need to keep working in the paint. Hillsdale Women's Basketball is doing great so far. They got beaten the paint early in the last half. They're not loud in that anymore.

You saw Ellie Bruce. in the first half coming off at the bench for Hillsdale there for Savannah Smith after Zeebler kind of dominated that matchup but coming out here in the second quarter you can see Hillsdale is clearly energized there on the part of Savannah Smith excellent defense there and then a nice little offensive possession of our own to score in the post so timeout taken quickly by fidley and now we're headed back out of it in Hillsdale seized off of the momentum they stole in the second quarter and they come out this third quarter and in the span of two minutes and 20 seconds. They keep on churning. So Hillsdale will be on defense here with a seven-point lead.

Finley's going to inbound the ball, and they're going to look to get anything out of this offense. Taylor Stanley will bring the ball up for Finley. See once again the conservative offense from Finley moving the ball around the top of the key. But Hillsdale's forcing long passes. That one is intercepted by Kendall McCormick, runs the fast break opportunity, and cash is in the layup. Hillsdale forcing long passes around the top of the key. And problem with a long pass is there's a lot of ways to intercept it. And Kendall McCormick does just that. Finley takes the ball up the court. And it looks like it's number 13 Jenae hoeing with the ball.

Nice dribble move to get into the post. And she makes a layup. So a nice answer there from Finley. Making sure Hillsdale doesn't seize the entire game here. Post entry to Savannah Smith for Hillsdale direct. directly. It's no good. Finley with the rebound running the fast break opportunity. And there's Finley's top score on the year, Kate Ellis, sprinting down court with the ball,

putting in a layup. So Finley, two quick layups, and they've closed the deficit. 3934. Five point deficit for Finley. Hillsdale takes the ball. The entry is to Emma Rulman, works around in the post. Excellent footwork. Shot rims out, rebounded by Lauren McDonald.

She dribbles and takes her own shot in the post. Once again, rims out. Two close misses there for Hillsdale. Finley running the fast break. Kate Ellis tried to get a pass there. Past Lauren Donald to the post player Alyssa Zeeler. Dominated the first part of that first half. And it's off the foot of McDonald.

So it will be Taylor Ball. They'll inbound from under their basket. Kick called. Taylor Stanley inbounds the ball. for Finley. The entry is to Zeeler, wide open in the post, and she cashes in. Savannah Smith checked out for Hillsdale, and in came Ellie Bruce, and Zeeler took advantage of that matchup and scored the two-point shot. 39-36. Hillsdale offense backup. Ellie Bruce in the post misses the shot. Hillsdale corrals the

rebound. It's Lauren McDonald again. Once again in the post, nice move to get an open shot, But rims out. Finley runs the fast break once again. A long pass from Taylor Stanley across the court to Chloe Callahan. Pass too slow. Hillsdale back on defense. And Finley will have to set their offense. Passing around the top of the key.

Zeeler attempting to get open down low, guarded by Bruce. Finley looking for the entry pass. It's not quite there. Five seconds on the shot clock. They move the ball around. A nice fake there from Ali Stop. But her shot is no good and rebounded by Caitlin Splain. Splane dribbles into a trap and the ball is stolen there by Finley, Taylor Stanley.

Finley again moves the ball to court. Very fast pace here in the mid part of this second quarter. Looks like Annalise Petrizik attempted to make a steal there for the Chargers. Ball is batted out of bounds and called Finlay. Finally ball, as we take a media timeout here halfway through the third quarter, you're listening to Chargers Basketball on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. The benefits of playing multiple sports from the youth level through high school are being proven even by those who've made it to the so-called next level. More college coaches want multi-sport athletes, and nearly 90% of the players taken in the recent pro football draft played multiple sports through high school. To learn more about multi-sport participation, visit the health and safe.

page of the MHSAA website. A message from the Michigan High School Athletic Association, promoting the value and values of educational athletics. As we welcome you back on the other end of the immediate timeout here halfway through the third quarter,

Hillsdale Women's Basketball here on 101 7 FM. The beginning part of this quarter, we saw Hillsdale and Finley trade threes, and then all of a sudden the tempo change. Payton, what happened here between the two teams? What happened is Finley took, got back to their original first half play method.

They started getting fast breaks and they used those to get right into the paint quickly, not allowing for the help defense from the Hillsdale women's team. They able to make use of that and down low, they were able to score quickly and score efficiently. And Hillsdale hasn't been able to do that at all. They've been slow, they've been passing around the top of the key. They have not been able to work the post. That's been their bread and butter the entire game. We need to see a return to that.

Again, you've seen Hillsdale offensively, a lot of players down near the paint and on the base, line and that's just a natural disadvantage to try and play transition defense. So Finley's taken full advantage of that here with a three point deficit in the third quarter. Marilyn Popplewell has checked

in for Hillsdale for Caitlin's plain as Finley post entry inside and scores so it's a one point deficit now for Finley. Excellent way to rebound off of a bad start to this quarter. Hillsdale will get the ball

now Lauren McDonald at the top of the key puts up a three and it's good. Lauren McDonald's zero hesitation. She didn't see a post entry. She threw up that three in the face of the defender and it goes in. That's her third three of the game. Second of the quarter I believe. There's another defensive possession here for Hillsdale. A little tie up with the ball and it bounces out of bounds in Finland. Finley's favor, but Hillsdale preventing shots from going up.

So there's 19 seconds on the shot clock as Finley will look to set up their offense and keep the ball falling into the hoop as they have in this quarter. Tough dribble penetration there from McKenzie Schultz for Finley. And she's called for an offensive foul. Whether it was a push or a charge, I can't tell. But she drove hard into that lane with the head of steam. and contact was just far too intense there against the defensive players. So Hillsdale will take the ball now, a bit of an offensive mistake for Finley.

Drive at the top of the key there from Kendall McCormick. Attempted a layup, it rimmed out. Ball was fought over for the rebound. It looked like four pairs of hands in there. Finley got the rebound, dribbled up the court, passed to the corner, and errant pass dropped by McKenzie Schultz

once again and Hillsdale will take the ball. Those two possessions were exactly what Hillsdale was looking for. They ran their offense just as they wanted. They didn't get the bucket but even still they slowed down Finley enough to get back on defense. Splein checks back in for Hillsdale dribbles the ball up the court.

Tempts a step back long two pointer. It misses but a very sharp rebound. Ball came very fast off the rim and It was batted by, it looked like, Allie Stockton for Findlay and out of bounds. So unintentionally, Hillsdale gets the ball back. What should have been a rebound for Finley because of that tough spin on the ball, stays with Hillsdale.

So Splane once again at the top of the key, dribbles in to a trap. Once again, ball runs free, but Emma Rulman grabs it for Hillsdale, and they retain possession. Three seconds on the shot clock. The shot is put up by Annalise Petrissic, off the rim, off the top. of the backboard and it's called out of bounds in favor of Finley. Splain just got a little out of control there. She ran into a triple team, got the ball stolen.

We can't keep doing that. You're seeing Splain play extremely fast here. It almost feels like Finley wants that because when this game has turned into a game of upbeat tempo and speed, they've been able to capitalize extremely well in the fast break. An excellent give and go there from Finley. It was number 11. Addison Freeman got the head. handoff from Alyssa Zeeler and then passed it right back to Zeeler on a cut to the basket.

So Zeller cashes in the two. Hillsdale will take the ball 42-40 lead here as we're about to enter the final two minutes of this third quarter. Layup was attempted there by Kendall McCormick off of a drive. A tough contested layup. Ball once again went free on the rebound, bounced around, batted around, and Finley came up with it. So Finley, with a chance here to move this game into a tie position or take the lead with a three-pointer here. 42-40. Attempts a post-entry of Zeeler and foul is called on Hillsdale.

Savannah Smith with a little push there on the entry pass from Finley, which all things considered, not a terrible thing. With how Zeeler's been scoring, you almost would rather have her be first. fouled there and not be able to put that shot up. I don't know. What we're seeing here is Finley using a lot more screens. They're forcing Hillsdale to switch, which is getting mismatches down in the paint. That's what you saw just right there.

Number 40, Emma Rulman just got beat down low by Zeeler. There's an entry off of the inbound to Addison Freeman. She dribbled through a double team into a hop, put up a shot and made it. A beautiful shot and she got the foul. So

Finley now has a chance to take the lead here on the and one shot by Addison Freeman. Didn't get a lot of minutes in the first half for Finley, but came off the bench here and has looked quite well. She misses the free throw, however, so it is 4242, a tie game. And Hillsdale will take the timeout. Wise timeout here from Hillsdale up 3730 moments ago,

and now it's a 4242 game. So we saw Hillsdale come firing out of the gates here, but Finley with a response of their own. What did we see from Finley that was able to knock this game? I said it just a second ago. It's those switches. What it's doing is it's forcing mismatches down in the paint. It's allowing Zeller and it's allowing their other post to work against smaller people like Emma Ruleman.

Where you've had Samantha Smith playing really good defense down low. But when Smith or Bruce is having to switch off for a smaller Hillsdale player, they're getting mismatches. Finley's able to make use of that and now it's its eye game. You saw a lot of use of off ball screens the first half. for Finley, you've also seen a couple on ball screens, and that's been able to help free up their perimeter game. Hillsdale's defense around the perimeter has been fantastic to the point in this game, but the use of those on ball screens is making Finley's passes shorter, and it's giving them penetration opportunities off the dribble, which is something we didn't see a lot of in the first half outside of the fast break.

So Hillsdale with the ball here, passes the ball around the top of the key, and the shot is attempted and no good by Annalise Petrissic. Finley will run the fast break operation. opportunity once again kicked out corner three Kate Ellis with the assist the shot was good by McKenzie Schultz a transition three in the corner that's the second transition three we've seen from Finley it's good and now they take a three point lead 45 to 43 here with a minute and a half left in the third quarter Hillsdale needs to slow down this offense they need to work around the outside until the paint opens up that's what working at the end worked at the end of the last half it's what's going to work in the future looks like a travel was called on Hillsdale

A little pivot shot in the post, and it was ruled that Hillsdale took one too many steps. So Finley will take the ball here, looking to capitalize off of the Hillsdale must take. Take a two-possession lead here. And right back, travel called on Finley, looks like number 20. Ella Messher got the ball on the baseline, tried to make a move in the post, and took a step before she put the ball on the ground. So Hillsdale will take the ball after Finley travels, and Lauren McDonald will look to set up the offense.

Passes to the top of the key to Bruce, and back out Kendall McCormick, and ball is stolen off of the pass. Finley takes the ball, dribbles up court. Addison Freeman puts up a three, open three, and no good Hillsdale takes the ball now Annalise Petrizik

dribbles up to the basket Finley bench wants a travel called no travel is called shot is attempted no good rebounded by Hillsdale the entry is to Ellie Bruce Ellie Bruce turn around layup

and it is also no good the rebound is to Finley and it looks like we have a foul called Ellie Bruce I believe Meve tried to go over the back to get her own rebound there and the foul was called. So 20 seconds left here in this third quarter. No doubt Finley's going to hold this and look for the last shot.

What shot are they looking for, Payton? They're looking for inside to Alyssa Zeler. It's worked for them the entire game. They're going to work with it all around at the perimeter. Then they're going to pass it inside to Zeler. She's in a one-on-one with Savannah Smith. You see two on the corners, two on the elbows and the ball up at the top of the court. Zeeler with the screen up top to Taylor.

Taylor takes the three. It's no good. rebounded by Lauren McDonald. One second on the clock. She throws up a shot too short. As we enter the fourth quarter here, Finley with a solid response here in this third quarter. It's 45-42.

Payton, obviously Finley wins this quarter on the scoreboard, but do you think based on what Hillsdale is seen through these first three quarters, they'll have enough to pull this one out? Oh, 100%. All that Hillsdale needs to do is slow down their offense. And they did a great job on that last possession. of slowing down and getting the shot that they wanted.

It didn't pan out, but it is what they needed. They used a 40-second possession, getting rebounds, wasting clock, passing inside, passing inside, to Ellie Bruce. They got the shot, they got a rebound, it just didn't pan out. And I think that will continue to fall

in the fourth quarter as we move forward. So as we enter the final quarter of the game, Hillsdale Trails 45 to 42, the teams are huddled up. We will take a break with them. You're listening to Chargers Basketball on Radio Free Hillsdale, 1017 FM. You are listening to Soundtracks for the Skyline, a genre of music for each city. I'm Lily Fay Kramer on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM.

Known as Music City, Nashville is famous for its country music scene, specifically its production and recording studios on Music Row. Jam sessions around town at Brownstiner and the station inn all the way to its historic venues like the Grand Ole Opry and the Riemann Auditorium contribute to its music culture. Locals and tourists alike love visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame to learn about the history of country music.

An intimate concert experience at the Riemann, which was historically a church back in the day, is popular to see up-and-coming artists or legends such as Spinskill. Many tourists, much of them Bachelorette parties, enjoy bar hopping on Broadway at Garthrokes' Friends in Low Places or Margaritaville, inspired by Jimmy Buffett.

The music of Nashville is unique because it is a combination of all kinds of country music, ranging from bluegrass to Outlaw, Gospel, and Pop, to name a few sub-genres. I'm Lily Fay Kramer, and this has been Soundtracks for the Skyline on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 at that. Welcome back here to the Don Tibbitts Potter Arena with Hillsdale Women's Basketball. Immediately out of the break, Finley gets the ball, and they're looking here to score. They're looking here to score extremely quick. The ball was passed to Kate Ellis,

knocked out of bounds, passed again to Ellis, knocked out of bounds. So we've had one possession here for Findlay. The ball's already been knocked out of bounds twice. He'd taken some time. And again, another entry pass toward Ellis. Shot put up immediately as the shot clock was low

from the previous two attempts. Hillsdale took the rebound, dribbles up the court. McDonald passed to Smith. Smith's shot attempt is no good. The rebound was to Petrizzik. Petrizzik tried to put up a follow-up two and was fouled. So she will go to the line. Hillsdale trailing 45-42,

with just a minute gone here in the fourth quarter. The first shot. The arena is silent as Petrissik puts up the first shot and puts it in. Total silence once again. Petrissik through the routine. Second attempt rims out. It's 45-43 Hillsdale.

Some spectacular defense in that first possession by Hillsdale, just not allowing Finley to complete those entry passes. Now, Finley kept the ball both times, but Hillsdale was able to drain that shot clock enough, forcing Finley to put up a rushed shot off an in-bounce pass, and they were able to take the ball. Finley looks for an entry, Tree pass here. Once again

trying to work that ball to Zeeler. A foul is called on Emma Rulman on the ground. Looks like she reached too far. And so Finley will once again inbound the ball. 15 seconds on the shot clock. Kate Ellis drives through

into a double team in the post. Pivots, looks for a pat, puts up a shot and it's good. A spectacular play by Kate Ellis, persevering through contact, getting that shot in. So Hillsdale will get the ball now as Lauren McDonald takes the ball up the ball up the court. Passes. Balls back to McDonald.

She puts up a two-pointer from the free throw line. No good. Rebound to Finley as they move the ball up the court. Now with a four-point lead and looking to extend it. Balls passed around the top of the key Zeeler posturing inside. Looking for an entry pass against Savannah Smith. Ten seconds on the shot clock. Still no entry.

There it is. Passed to Zeeler. Zeeler isolation on Smith puts up a two-point shot. it's no good. Rebound there to Sidney Panassick. Savannah Smith with a great defensive hold there. She kept Zeeler from getting to the basket, forced a bad shot, and now Hills is on offense. Petrizzik on the rebound. Petrizzik. McDonald takes the ball up the court, attempts a three, and it's no good.

Finley with a rebound. Looking to play fast here, even on a set up possession, straight five on five, but sprinting up the court, no less, is Kate Ellis. She makes an excellent dribble move to get into the lane. And the layup is good. Kate Ellis with another two points there for Finley. And Hillsdale will take a time out here with seven minutes and 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter. So again, you see that fast offense for Finley making a difference.

It's a fast offense from Finley, but it's also a fast offense from Hillsdale. And Hillsdale's done its best when it's moved the ball around and allowed for dispersing points throughout the entire team. What we're seeing is a lot of Lauren McDonald getting an ISO and missing the shot. She's driving into bad possessions. It's the same with Caitlin's plane. They need to keep moving the ball around. They need to get the ball to Petrizzik.

They need to get the ball to Smith. Their teammates who have been doing really well this entire game, but instead they're not finishing out. And Finley is working the ball through their best players through Kate Ellis and Anna Zeler. Elis Isler. They've had great games so far, and they're holding on to those. Hillsdale needs to work it in the paint, works slow and methodically.

They're only down six, there's seven and a half minutes. I think Hillsdale can come back from this. You've seen the stat sheet throughout the season would tell you that the more Lauren McDonald gets the ball, the more the Chargers score. But outside of that little hot streak there in the third quarter, McDonald hasn't had her regular scoring day. Hillsdale's offense has had to rely on other players like Swain,

like Bruce, like Smith, in order to make up that deficit. So they're down six here. It's 49-43. And again, Payton, that magic number is 65. And Finley is nearing 65 here. They are. And what we're going to see is Hillsdale needs to hold them back. They need to hold back.

And what they do that is by maintaining possession. Hillsdale has done really well in possession time the entire game. But they're speeding through their time now. And they're giving Finley the ball. And they're allowing them to work the way. You've seen as the Finley offense has started to come into its own. Hillsdale has faded gradually. And as Finley continues to score,

Hillsdale has less of an answer. But there's one for Hillsdale. Caitlin, off of the inbound, uses a screen from Savannah Smith, puts up the shot, couple steps beyond the three-point line. That was a deep shot. And that was a design three as well.

Caitlin Splain wanted that screen there, and Savannah Smith gave it to her. Splane got deep, put the three in the hole. Splean, excellent shooter. And now the students, is in the game off of that big three chanting defense as finley looks to answer and they will get the opportunity to answer kate ellis again ball at the top of the key and just superior speed she drives in attempts the layup and she's fouled on her way up so she will receive two shots from the free throw

line finley's leading scorer on the year she's the threat on the perimeter and zeeler provides their offense from the post. So Kate Ellis, you saw the game moving through Zeeler in the first half, and Ellis has kind of taken over here in the fourth quarter, and she's moving the Finley offense. That's exactly right. And I think we're showing a little bit of a mismatch here as Ellis is beating Petrissic every possession.

Each of the last three possessions, Ellis has driven, and she's won, and it's forced either a foul or a bucket for Finley. What we need to see is some more help defense out of Hillsdale College. Both shots are good for Ellis, and so Finley will extend their advantage to points as Caitlin Splain brings the ball up for Hillsdale passes to McDonald and back to Splain Splain looking for something gets inside past to Smith back out to the three-point line for Emma Rulman and Rulman puts it in the crowd loves it another three-point shot for Hillsdale it's a two-point game 51 49 six minutes to go in this final quarter of G-Mack women's basketball

Finley looking to keep this lead. They need a bucket here with how well Hillsdale's offense is playing on those tough contested shots. And there it is again. Kate Ellis, another dribble move against Annalise Petrizik. Another excellent change of direction, another penetration into the lane. The shot goes in. And that immediately silences the Hillsdale crowd. as Splane brings the ball up, attempts another three.

A close contested three. Very nearly puts it in. The ball is no good. Finley takes the rebound, moves the ball up the court, and they are swinging the ball around the perimeter extremely fast. Four passes. On to the inside to Alyssa Zheeler and an uncharacteristic miss on an open shot. She got Savannah Smith to bite on a fake,

put up a shot almost entirely uncontested but missed. So Hillsdale will try and take advantage of that. that missed opportunity. Spain again at the top of the key puts up a three an open three but off the dribble it's no good just rimmed out. That's each of the last two possessions for Hillsdale. Splane has put up a three that was probably a little rushed. They weren't able to run the offense. Each of the two possessions before when Hillsdale made threes they had worked the ball around into a very wide open three. Splane is rushing this and it's showing. Spain got hot in the second and third quarter and she really had that Hillsdale offense going but she's missed each of the past two

possessions and now Hillsdale has two possessions to make up under five minutes to go in the fourth quarter the shot from Finley is no good was Chloe Callahan attempting an open three as Hillsdale's defense has focused more on the post there's been openings around the perimeter so Finley's been swinging the ball extremely fast and Callahan got an open look and took it it was no good And Hillsdale brings the ball up now. McDonnell passes to Splane Trips. Ball is out off of Hillsdale. So McDonald attempted to get a pass over to Splane at the top of the key.

Splane got her feet tangled up with either one of her own teammates or with the Finley defense fell over and batted the ball out of bounds. So Finley will take the ball. Uncharacteristic turnover there for Hillsdale as Finley. No, no. The pass was to the corner for Finley. Once again, the ball was to Chloe Callahan. Callahan took the three and made it in the corner wide open,

but the referee ruled that her foot was out of bounds when she received the ball. So that's an extremely fortunate break there for Hillsdale. Callahan wide open makes the three, but zero reaction there from Finley and zero points either. So Hillsdale will take the ball here. And we've got a foul on the ground. Hillsdale trying to enter that ball toward the post. And Finley, with a tough foul there. So Hillsdale will inbound from under the basket.

The entry pass is to Petrizzik. Petrizzik puts up a shot. It's deflected there by Kate Ellis, and it'll be Hillsdale ball again. So 16 seconds to go on the shot clock. Hillsdale will inbound the ball once again from below their basket. They're trying to work this ball inside, but they just haven't been able to get points from there yet this quarter. So here we are.

Dribble handoff to Lauren McDonald off of the inbound. McDonald dribbles in. Another foul is called. Is it on the ground or in the air, is the question? Foul is called in the air. So Lauren McDonald, as she was dribbling, attempting to get that ball into her shooting hand. It was ruled she was tied up. Defender got her on the wrist.

And because she had that ball in her shooting him and she was trying to go for that little running layup, the shooting foul is called on the continuation. So she will go to the line for two free throws. She misses the first, not entirely characteristic for her. She is a 73% free throw shooter, and Hillsdale needs these points right now. Unfortunate break there. Ball looked good, bounced around, almost fell, and then rolled off. But she will make the second one as Hillsdale will close the deficit to three.

53 to 50. Four minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Hillsdale trailing Findley here. Finley brings the ball up, and Hillsdale is playing incredibly close defense. Looks like they've moved to a closer man after Finley's found open spots on the perimeter. And Lauren McDonald, with a steel off of the pass, Hillsdale's going to look to get it all here. Rulman past a Splane. Splane looking around.

The entry past to Savannah Smith, and a foul is called on the ground. forgive me not savanna smith the pass was to ellie bruce on the post she was in a double team but number 13 janei hoeing of finley got her hands in too close with bruce and so the foul was called there and hillsdale once again in bounds from under their basket with the ball and a chance to even this game on macdonald with the ball mcdonald with the ball in the corner and alice petriss attritsittricks attempted to set a screen Feet got tied up, so three bodies hit the floor, and it was called an offensive foul on Petrizzan. The crowd is not happy, Lewis.

It doesn't look like she set her feet properly to set that screen, and so she got them taken out from under her. Three more fell down, and the crowd's not happy with the call, but Finley's going to take it. There's three and a half minutes to play, and it's 53 to 50. We near the country. crucial minutes of this game. Hillsdale's defense has definitely taken a step up and they're doing what they need to, but the offense just isn't there, Peyton. No, it's not.

What we're seeing here is now Finley working the ball out to the outside. Callahan had another opportunity for an open three with Finley. She passed up, moved it around the top of the key once again. Another open three for Finley, McKenzie Schultz, but it rims out. This is pure hustle. They're calling a jump ball here. Both teams are working the hardest we've seen all game in the last crucial minutes of the game. No, the shot was no good.

Both teams went for the rebound. It initially looked like a jump ball, but they actually called a foul on Alyssa Zeeler as she was fighting for that ball against Caitlin Spley. That's another foul on Zillor. The crowd is in this. They are hyped. It is a three-point game. Finley leads 50-350, and now Caitlin's plane is going to go to the charity strike.

Crucial possession here because, Hillsdale is now in the bonus. That's a lot of fouls from Findlay. And so Caitlin's going to the line. This is obviously the one-in-one, the single bonus. But if she can make this free throw, it's a two-point game. This shot is no good. Wow. Tired legs.

She's an 80% free-throw shooter around the year. Hillsdale needs these points. Double bonus here. Splane puts up the free throw. She makes the second. So it's 53-51. Finley. Both teams are now in the bonus. Hillsdale double bonus. So they'll be shooting two free throws every foul from now on. Finley will be shooting the one and one free throw. So fouls now coming into play. Finley takes the ball at the top of the key.

Number 11, Addison Freeman dribbles in. A tough contested shot might have been a foul there, but nothing is called. The rebound goes to Lauren McDonald. And Hillsdale will look to even this game up. Two minutes and 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Emma Rulman with the ball at the top of the key. Andrew pass to Lauren McDonald. A tough layup and she makes it. Straight through contact, scoops a layup underhand over the defender, high off the backboard. And it's a 53-53 game with two minutes and 15 seconds left to play.

Finley takes a time out, and this game just got interesting, Pey. This is exactly what we've wanted out of Hillsdale this entire game. Lauren McDonald is getting going in the best way possible. She's not just taking control of the game. She's playing with her team and then leading when she can. So she got the ball there off of a screen into an isolated situation, and she was able to win the one-on-one down low. What we were seeing earlier in the third quarter

was Lauren McDonald taking control of the possession and driving into a double or a triple team, and it just didn't work out. We saw the ball work around the entire perimeter, and Lauren McDonald's in with it, and Hillsdale into point. So Finley, we'll have the ball here coming out of the time. out. But Hillsdale's defense and then following it up with the offense is seized control of this game. It almost feels like Hillsdale's leading here, even though it's a tie game and they just tied it. It feels like they've got all the momentum heading into these final two minutes.

100% Hillsdale does. You can hear the pep band going. The crowd is very loud. Hillsdale is ready to play. They've been hustling for the last couple minutes. And it showed because Finley has been forced to make mistakes. They've been forced to make fouls, which has led to Hillsdale. being in the double bonus. And this is where, being Hillsdale's home court, this is where it really comes into play. Because the crowd is going to get into it here with two minutes left to play in a close game. Defense chance in the crowd. The arena becomes louder and louder.

It's Finley. It looks like they're trying to set up an open shot on the perimeter, but just nothing there. They're not going to risk a post-entry to Zela right now. Three seconds on the shot clock. The shot is up for Kate Ellis, and it's no good. Zeeler attempted to get the rebound. It looked like she tried to put up a shot, but the ball was batted out of her hand.

So Hillsdale takes the ball now with a minute and 40 seconds left in this tie game, 53, 53. Savannah Smith has the ball at the top of the key, right by the free throw line. She's held it for too long, but she was able to get it out in time to Kendall McCormick, who passed it back to Smith on a post-entry. Smith against Zeeler.

Zeeler ties up the ball. The shot is no good from Smith. McDonald with the rebound, shot bounces around. No good, and the foul is called against Hillsdale. That was number 23, Annalise Petrizik, going up trying to get that rebound. It was ruled she went over the back of the Finley defender. So, Finley will go to the line here in the bonus, so that's a one-in-one free throw. She makes the shot, she gets another, she misses, and it's a live ball.

and who else do you send to the free throw line but Kate Ellis that's exactly right I'm hoping that we don't see a loss of momentum here on the last possession you saw four chargers surrounds Anna Elisa Elizabeth Zerler and they were able to get the stop now you have Kate Ellis on the free throw line Ellis misses this foul this foul put Hillsdale in the double bonus so it's it's two free throws it's two free throws they were in the bonus previously and that was the foul that put them over. And Ellis makes the second free throw.

So it's 54-53. You've really seen Ellis takeover as the leader of this Finley team in this fourth quarter. And that's what she was all season for Finley. She didn't really have the mojo in that second and third quarters, but she's come out and she's really taken control of the game. The entry pass to Savannah Smith, she tries to isolate on Alyssa Zeler looking for a shot. Finley ties up the ball. So with a jump ball, but possession is too.

Hillsdale. So they will get to inbound. 15 seconds on the shot clock. One minute left in the fourth quarter and a 54-53 game for Findlay. The inbound is to Savannah Smith. She hands to Lauren McDonald. McDonald fakes the three, pulls up from the elbow and it's good. It's good. 55, 54 for Hillsdale. Lauren McDonald coming through in the clutch. So we're under a minute left. Under a minute left in this absolute thriller between Findley and Hillsdale. Finley, Finley, handing the ball. Findlay, handing the ball. ball off on the perimeter. Looking for an open shot. Nothing presents itself yet.

10 seconds on the shot clock. Cross court pass. Cross court pass to Kate Ellis. She penetrates and it looks like she put the ball off her foot and out of bounds. So Hillsdale is going to take the ball here. 33 seconds on the clock. 30 seconds on the shot clock with a one point lead. Now you're going to see a full court press out of Finley because they need to get this ball back and they need to score.

They are down and you have 34 seconds left. This isn't even a full court partial press. They had all five of their defenders up past the mid-court line, but Hillsdale Brookes it. Lauren McDonald dribbles through trouble, and Caitlin Spleyne is going to slow the game down. Head coach Brianna Brennan. Head coach Brianna Brennan telling Caitlin Splean to slow down.

The ball is passed to Lauren McDonald, and there's a foul called on Finley for a reach. So this is two shots for Lauren McDonald. If she can make both of these, this is a three-point game with 20 seconds left, and the pressure is really on Findlay. If you're Hillsdale, you want this ball to get to McDonald's, and that's exactly what they did.

She's your best shooter on the team, and here she goes. The first one is in. Smart call. Splane dribbled up on this possession, up next to the coach, and Coach Brennan evidently told her to give the ball to Lauren McDonald, and that's exactly what she did immediately. So McDonald got found.

It looks like they're sending in Annalise Petrizzik as a sub for Splane. They're going either for their defensive or their free throw shooting, team right now and Findley will take a timeout as Lauren McDonald makes the second free throw. It's 57 to 54. A three point game with 20 seconds left and Hillsdale has the lead

on conference opponent Finley. This is exactly what you want. You're up three points. You made both your free throws. The crowd is standing. The pep band is playing. We go into a timeout. Hillsdale can't ask for much more than this. They just need to play smart defense.

Make sure that you guard the paint. give them easy points, force a bad three. Play tight, just like they have the past three minutes. It's forced bad plays out of Tate Ellis and even further out of Alyssa Zeler. They haven't been able to work anything inside. Lewis? So Hillsdale's Biggs, not very effective from the free throw line yet this season. Finley presumably is going to try and put up an early shot down three points. But if your head coach Brianna Brennan here for Hillsdale, are you keeping your bigs on the court to play defense? Are you subbing in a more effective

lineup of guards in the hopes that if they can grab that rebound, they're going to make those free. Well, as they leave the huddle, it does look like she brought a larger lineup, and you see Petrizzac going in for Caitlin Splain, and they stuck with that. I think she wants to guard down low. She doesn't want to give up those two points, make it a one-score game.

It's Petrissick, McCormick, Smith, Rulman, and McDonald for Hillsdale. Finley will inbound the ball in their front court. The inbound is to number. 44 Alyssa Zeeler and the shot is no good. She had a, she had a very nice drive, was able to get Savannah Smith the bite on a fake, went in for a rebound, close contest.

It was taken off the rim by Kendall McCormick, who got that rebound, corralled that ball, brought it down and hugged it tight. Finley went for the jump ball. They did not get it. So shooting two now will be Kendall McCormick. A chance to make this a two-possession game and all and do everything. put the game out of reach here. Now Kendall McCormick,

this is the first one. She is the worst free throw shooter off with the starting five. She's shooting 65% below that mark of 70% that you generally aim for. Do we think she can make the second one? McCormick has settled in. Takes the free throw routine. 14.6 seconds left to go. She makes it.

A very flat shot, very little arc to it, directly at the back part of that rim. And it's in. And what does that mean? That means if it's a four-point game, it is officially two scores. Finley cannot lean towards that three ball. All they can own for now is incredibly fast offense to the paint. They're going to rush downhill immediately, hopefully get that ball to Anna Zeler for Kate Ellis, get an isolated situation, try to get two points, get a foul, Hope Hillsdale misses, and maybe they're back in this game. So now that you've got a four-point game, you can trust your defense on Finley's side, Payton. What shot are they going to look for here with

15 seconds left to try and close this game to one possession. A second ago, I mentioned Alyssa Zeler and Kate Ellis. I think this is going to Kate Ellis. If we see Petrissick on Kate Ellis, they're going to try and take that matchup, and Kate Ellis is going directly to the hoop. She's going to move downhill. She's going to take a nice layup. That's the player you want to take the shot.

If she gets fouled, she's going to make her free throws. That's what she can hope for from Finley. If they try anything different, I'd be incredibly surprised. So time is the biggest factor here. Finley has to get this ball up into the air and hopefully in the basket as fast as possible. So no doubt they're drawing up in-bounds play. Indeed, here we see for Finley. You have Zeeler and McKenzie Schultz standing on the blocks.

And then on the elbows, you have Chloe Callahan and Kate Ellis, who are your best shooters. And then it looks like we'll see some screens off of this inbound. Schultz breaks open in the corner as Callahan. Callahan passes back to the inbounder. Jene Hoing. Hoeing penetrates, dribbles, misses the shot. Zeeler gets the rebound, attempts to put up a quick putback and misses. Rebound is again to Finley.

Kate Ellis corrals the rebound, dribbles out to the three-point line. She finds Chloe Callahan, and Chloe Callahan with a desperation three puts it in. Very quick, very little reaction from the crowd or the Finley bench, because remember, this is still the two-possession game. So it's 58-57 Hillsdale. there's two and a half seconds left on the clock. All Hillsdale has to do is get this ball in bounds. How are you doing it, Dave? I'm looking for a lot of screens here.

I'm putting two people on each block. I'm moving them amongst each other, and I'm looking for Lauren McDonald. You need to get the ball to her, and if not, maybe you put in Splane. You want to get those free throw percentage up. You want to get fouled. Finley is fouling the second that that ball gets inbounded

if they cannot get the trap. They want to get the trap, and they want to get a two-on-one so they can steal that ball. neither team has a timeout. And you've got two and a half seconds as Hillsdale. So this ball doesn't even need to go to a guard in order for the game to expire. You can get this ball to Savannah Smith. You could put your worst free-throw shooter in this game and get them the ball.

And as long as they catch that ball and two and a half seconds drains from the clock, it does not matter. This is crucial here. Hillsdale, you just need to get this ball in bounds and touched and hopefully as far away from your own basket as possible. Hillsdale is in their own front court. They're going to inbound this ball. Rulman is running off of a triple screen. McDonald follows off of a double screen. The ball is tipped on the inbound.

It's grabbed by Lauren McDonald. The clock runs 1.4 seconds, and they immediately foul Lauren McDonald. That was close to disaster for Hillsdale because the ball was tipped immediately off of the inbound pass toward Finley. McDonald made an incredible play to sprint up there, jump up in the air, and grab that ball before anyone else could. So there's one second left. It was scary, but that was exactly what you want out of Hillsdale.

You had Emma Rulman running as a first option. Ideally, you were looking for McDonald's, and that's what you got. As she ran from behind, came off of her screen, and she got the ball. So Hillsdale has pulled all of their players behind the three-point line as McDonald shoots this last free throw. So it's going to be an uncontested rebound for Finley with one second left. Hillsdale just asked to crash and make sure Finley doesn't get a good look off. McDonald shoots the second.

It's now a two-point game, 59-57, one second left on the clock. Finley has one shot. Passes inbound into number 13. Jene Hoing throws up a desperation. Heave, three-quarters court. It is no good. And Hillsdale will escape against conference opponent, Finley. Hillsdale wins basketball, secures a 59-57 win against Finley.

Again, they did not allow 65 points, and they came away with the win. Hayden, who's your MVP of this game? Oh, my MVP, I think that's tough, but I'm going to have to go with Savannah Smith. Her defensive playmaking led to Hillsdale's offense. When she was able to stop Alyssa Zeeler in the second half, Alyssa Zeeler had almost no impact at the end of the game. Savannah Smith made sure that that happened and we were able to move forward to a Hillsdale win. So Smith, obviously Zeeler dominated that matchup in the first quarter, but Smith, even though she wasn't putting up a lot of points on the board, that defense really shot down Finley's offense

in the second half and they weren't able to work anything in the post. So a great, response by Hillsdale after a spectacular first quarter and third quarter from Finley really coming out of the gates strong and then Hillsdale responds some tremendous poise from the starters and head coach Brianna Breton's got to be happy snagging this win in the GMAC and improving the record to 18 and 12 that'll do it for me for Peyton hughes on louis noon hillsdale men's basketball will follow shortly as they too face finley in a GMAC competition in men's basketball. But for now, Hillsdale wins basketball prevails over Finley, 59-57. The men's game will follow shortly after about 25 minutes now. So Lewis Thune and Peyton Hughes, signing off. You're listening to Chargers Basketball on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM.