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It wan't looking good for the host Lady Cardinals Wednesday, Jan. 12. Thomas trailed 52-50, there were only 11 seconds left to play, and the Cruisers were at their end of the floor shooting free throws.

Groveport proceeded to miss the front end of a one-and-one, the Cardinals zoomed downcourt and with a half-second showing on the clock Thomas junior Whitney Miller scored and was fouled. Miller converted the three-point play and the Cardinals improved their record to 9-3.

Miller led all scorers with 18 points, joined in double figures by teammates Kim Hoerauf (12) and Frannie Frazier (10).

Groveport fell to 2-8 in the non-league contest.
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Cards' Carroll is focus for Wolves

Posted by Michelle Umali at Jan 12, 2011 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

As the Worthington Kilbourne High School girls basketball team prepares to play host to Thomas Worthington on Friday, a point of emphasis figures to be containing Cardinals guard Natalie Carroll.

The 5-foot-5 Carroll, who scored 10 points in a 66-44 victory over Kilbourne on Dec. 3, was averaging 12.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 steals through 11 games.

She has made 16 3-pointers, shot 36 percent from 3-point range and 64 percent from the free throw line.

"Natalie's one of those hard-nose, tough, gritty players," Wolves coach Steve Palmer said. "She's like a magnet. You know she's going to get her shots and do some damage, but you don't want to turn her loose."

After three years as Thomas' point guard, Carroll was moved to shooting guard this season. She plays that position for her AAU team and Cardinals coach Laurie Barr believes the move has given the senior the chance to become a bigger threat.

"It's a lot to ask (a point guard) to not only set up the offense but to create shots inside and outside for themselves," Barr said. "The fact that we have some other kids who can help out in that area has let Natalie do some of the other things.

"Some nights she will shoot from behind the 3-point arc. Other nights they take away that from her and she drives the lane and takes shots."

The Cardinals, 8-3 overall after defeating Central Crossing 66-46 last Friday, are tied with Upper Arlington and Dublin Coffman for first in the OCC-Central Division with a 6-1 record through the first round of play.

Carroll, who scored 15 points against the Comets, looks forward to an intense game against Kilbourne.

"I love playing Kilbourne," Carroll said. "We know every single girl on that team and what they do on the court."

"Kilbourne always brings their 'A' game and plays us tough," Barr said. "We're going to have to be focused and ready to play them."

Kilbourne has not beaten Thomas since a 48-37 win during the 2007-08 season.

The Cardinals own a commanding advantage in the rivalry since both teams ended up in the OCC-Central, winning five consecutive games by 20 or more points.

The Wolves had won three consecutive games before losing to Coffman 61-25 last Friday.

At 5-4 overall before playing Granville last Tuesday, Kilbourne needs one victory to match its win total for the past two years.

Kilbourne wasn't at full strength the first time it faced Thomas.

The Wolves were without senior post player Darby McMullen and freshman guard Kayla Pack, both of whom were recovering from concussions, and junior guard Marissa Elliott, who was battling a foot injury.

"We're not that deep as a team and if you take away three players, we're going to take a hit," Palmer said. "I think it's going to be a little better game this time around."

Both teams showed their explosiveness on Jan. 3.

Tied at 23 early in the second half, Thomas closed the third quarter on an 18-3 run in a 59-32 win over Hilliard Darby. Carroll made 11 of 15 free throws and led the Cardinals with 19 points.

"We started out the season with a lot of defensive intensity but went flat for a few games in that area," Barr said. "We watched some film and worked on that in the last week and a half. We showed the difference of what we have been working on defensively in the second half."

Trailing Central Crossing 22-19, the Wolves outscored the Comets 17-1 in final eight minutes to post a 36-23 win.

"Through the first three quarters, we shot ourselves in the foot, but closing the game on a 17-1 run is not a bad way to finish a game," Palmer said. "Our shots finally started to fall."

After a few close opening minutes, the Lady Cardinals improved their season record to 8-3, pulling away to a win over visiting Central Crossing (3-8) Friday, Jan. 7.

Thomas stormed to a 39-22 lead by halftime, and was up by 14 entering the fourth quarter.

Thomas Worthington landed three players in double figures as Whitney Miller scored 17 points, Natalie Carroll 15 and Kim Hoerauf 10.

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red OUT and Multiple Sclerosis Night

Posted by at Jan 3, 2011 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

Hello Penguins,

Happy New Year. We hope your 2011 is the best year ever.

Don't forget that the Red Out is this Friday January 7. Come and watch the Thomas Worthington Lady Cards in action against Central Crossing at 7:30pm.