LIBERTY - In recounting Girard's 48-23 win over Liberty on Thursday night, it's undeniable how well the Indians played. Limiting an opponent to just nine field goals and to single-digits in all four quarters can't be understated.
Equally undeniable, however, is the asterisk denoting a serious first-quarter knee injury to the Leopards' Vakeyla Merriweather, one of Trumbull County's top scorers.
"Merriweather getting hurt certainly didn't help matters for them," Girard coach Andy Saxon said. "We had talked a lot about her coming in and what she's able to do penetrating and on defense."
Merriweather is also key to the Leopard's defensive identity, leading a 1-3-1 trapping defense which, on normal nights, creates a full-court game in which Liberty's speed and athleticism can flourish. In her absence, the Leopards were drawn into a half-court contest.
"She's the key to our 1-3-1 and we couldn't get into it after that," Liberty coach Ron Dejulio explained.
Instead, Dejulio was forced to respond to the first quarter performance of Girard's Miranda Boyle. Boyle, who netted 12 of her game high 16 points in the quarter, forced Dejulio to experiment with a Box-and-1 defense to limit the shooter's touches.
With a healthy Merriweather, there's usually not much experimenting.
"We were absolutely not planning on having to do something like that," Dejulio said. "We were coming in with our regular game plan and trying to press and get up and down the floor and she's the key to all of that."
Special emphasis on Boyle quickly forced Liberty into a regular man-to-man defense. Girard, equipped with outside threats in Boyle, Hayley Spalla, and Lindsay Durkin, usually requires evenly spread concern, especially with its inside-out game. Inside players Bree Bishop and Courtney Kellar more than keep opponents honest.
"We try to make sure we make the right pass," Boyle explained. "Teams will see that our post players can score so we try to make sure we make the right pass and hurt them inside and out."
Saxon attributed his teams unselfishness to its ability to adapt to whatever opposing teams come up with.
"Teams have tried a bunch of defenses against us, but it's somebody else for us every night. Let them focus on one girl. We have other girls that can score. We don't have a superstar. We're a balanced team."
Dejulio admitted this quandary, complimenting the Indians decision-making and discipline.
"They're very hard to defend with Boyle outside and Bishop inside," he said. "If you take away the post they're going to kick it out and they can shoot it. They do a good job of taking whatever you give them."
With the win, Girard improves to 12-6 overall and 7-3 in the All-American Conference, American Division. Liberty (5-12, 2-7 AAC American) was led by Kim Staples' 13 points.
When asked to describe the season and what type of team Girard has, Boyle quickly jumped to a key word.
"Family, this team is like a family. We've been that way since the beginning and we've been together a long time and it shows. Everybody wants the best for everybody and I think it shows on the court."
