Slow start hampers Woodland girls

BLOOMFIELD -- The Woodland Cardinals got the early game jitters out of their system in the second quarter of their Class 3 District 2 girls basketball final Thursday night against the top-seeded Greenville Bears.

By the time the Cardinals got things together in their first district final, they trailed 15-4 after the first quarter and the Bears went on to a 51-41 win.

"The first quarter was big," Woodland coach Stephanie DePew said. "There were probably a lot of nerves. I think we had a lot of turnovers in that quarter. They've never been here before and that isn't an excuse by any means."

The Cardinals (12-8) settled down in the second quarter as they outscored Greenville 18-13.

Woodland went on a 12-4 run in the first four minutes. Senior Lauren Johnson made three straight baskets and totaled 10 points in the quarter.

Woodland's Kaitlin McCormick (4) reaches for a rebound during the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 championship game Thursday night, March 5, 2009, in Bloomfield, Mo. (Daily American Republic/Brian Rosener)

After Johnson missed the second of two attempts at the free-throw line with 2:36 left in the first half, Taylor Steckman grabbed the rebound and laid it in to make it a one-point game.

Woodland came out strong in the second half after trailing by six at halftime.

A basket by Rebecca Brannon pulled Woodland to within 30-28, but that's the closest it would get the rest of the game.

"They wanted it really bad," DePew said. "They wanted to win this. We haven't been here before, and this was going to be our shot."

Steckman led Woodland with 15 points and Johnson finished with 12.

It was the second straight district title for Greenville (13-8).

Class 2 District 5

Third-seeded St. Vincent built a 17-point lead by halftime and cruised into the championship game with a 54-42 victory over O'Fallon Christian.

Courtney Besand scored 28 points to blaze the trail into today's 5:30 p.m. championship game against No. 4 seed New Haven.

Amanda Wengert added 13 points for St. Vincent (12-14).

@z_agate_HSbasketball_linescore:St. Vincent1812618--54

O'Fallon671218--42

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:ST. VINCENT (54) -- Chelsie Boxdorfer 1, Courtney Besand 28, Lindsey Wehmeyer 6, Amanda Wengert 13, Valerie Finger 2, Alyse Wheeler 2, Kali Wingerter 2. FG 21, FT 12-28, F 16. (3-pointers: None. Fouled out: None)

O'FALLON CHRISTIAN (42) -- Bethany Kasselbaum 3, Andrea Gleville 20, Breanna Wheelen 5, Alaina Thornhill 4, Kristen MacCarthey 6, Kelsey Clark 4. FG 14, FT 9-15, F 21. (3-pointers: Glenville 1, Wheelen 1. Fouled out: MacCarthey, Wheelen, Thornhill)

-- Staff reports contributed to this report