Following a season-opening win, the Oldenburg Academy Lady Twisters hit the proverbial brick wall this past weekend with back-to-back losses of at least 20 points. Visiting Southwestern Shelbyville got them Saturday afternoon, turning an 11-11 tie midway through the second period into a 40-20 rout of the home side.

“We struggled mightily from the field and simply couldn't buy a basket, including many missed layups,” head coach Eric Feller said.

Great defense by the hosts over the first 12 minutes netted a nearly continuous series of transition opportunities, but only a few were converted or led to free throw chances. Thus, the Lady Spartans were able to hang around and put together a 7-0 run to end the first half for an 18-11 score at intermission.

Senior Emma Weberding opened second-half scoring with a steal and finish but that wouldn't signal an offensive turnaround for the Twisters down the stretch. Oldenburg converted just three baskets the rest of the way for an additional seven points.

At 18-13, fouls quickly mounted for the Twisters with the team total reaching five in the first few minutes. The Spartans walked to the line and made 4 of their 6 chances. With 1:27 remaining in the period, Alison Muck completed a drive to make it a double-digit advantage. Feller called timeout to stem the 6-0 run.

Sophomore Rachel Lamping got three of those back on a shot from the side. However, Southwestern's Cy Stockdale answered from long range with 10 seconds on the clock.

Lilly Rooks pushed the lead to 13 (29-16) early in the fourth before sophomore Ellie Ryan sank her lone bucket of the afternoon for OA.

SW senior Lily Kerber owned the next couple minutes of action, putting in seven of her game-high dozen points and drawing a fifth foul on OA junior Hannah Haverkos. Coach Jason West paused the action at 5:47 with his team in the driver's seat at 36-18.

A dish to Weberding would be Oldenburg's final points and give her a team-best six points. Rooks capped off the day's scoring on a pair of drives.

Coming out aggressive from the opening tip, the Twisters were called for three fouls in the first 37 seconds of the game. A jumper by junior Ashley Borgman broke the scoreless tie and a score by Haverkos off a pilfer made it 4-0. Rooks was fouled on a good reverse layup; she missed the foul shot, but Kerber was there for the putback and tie. Baskets by Weberding and Rooks produced deadlocks at six and eight as the quarter ended.

Rooks found Muck for two early in the second frame and sophomore Kate Weber answered off a nice ball fake. Borgman made 1 of 2 at the stripe ahead of an OA timeout at 3:20. In the last two minutes of the half, SW got a three by Faith Kelley and two FTs apiece for Kerber and Kennedy Pile.

Weberding added 6 boards and Haverkos 5 each of points, steals and rebounds. Weber collected 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

OA hosted Lawrenceburg Tuesday (result not available) and visits Jac-Cen-Del and Morristown for Friday and Saturday night games.

Scoring

SW Shelby (2-2) – Kerber 12, Rooks 10, Muck 4, Kelley 3 (3), Pile 4, Stockdale 3 (3), Correll 4

OA (1-2) – Lamping 3 (3), Weberding 6, Weber 2, Ryan 2, Borgman 3, Haverkos 4

At Southwestern Hanover (Nov. 12)

Starting the mini set against high schools named Southwestern, Oldenburg suffered a 56-35 setback to the Lady Rebels of Hanover Friday night.

An 11-9 game after one, the Rebs expanded their lead to 30-16 at the half. The lead was 18 after three periods.

Feller called SW's performance excellent and added, “We struggled all night long to gain rhythm … this coupled along with foul trouble made it a frustrating night.”

The hosts put four girls into double figures. Weberding led OA with 10 points and 7 rebounds. Ryan went for 9 and 4. Weber had 5 points and 4 assists and Lamping 4 of each.