Lady Trojans are on a five-game win streak

HARTINGTON— The Cedar Catholic Lady Trojans are in the midst of a win streak.

The Cedar girls moved to 6-5 last week with three impressive wins, defeating Osmond, 50-32, then rolling to a 53-32 win against visiting Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Thursday before wrapping the week up Saturday with a 45-27 defeat of Tri-County Northeast.

The five-game win streak would be put to the test this week when they played host to Boone Central Tuesday before hosting Pierce Thursday, heading to Lutheran High-Northeast Saturday and traveling to Creighton on Tuesday.

In the Osmond win, the Lady Trojans were paced by Brynn Wortman – who was coming off a school-record 34-point performance the previous week in a win over Winnebago – with 16 points and Jordyn Steffen’s 13 points.

“These two girls have been very consistent for us and are a big part of our win streak,” head coach Craig Wortmann said. “We have been moving the ball in our half court and full court offense very well. The girls are working together and finding shots that work in our offense and are high percentage shots for them.”

Brynn Wortmann scored 32 points in the win over LCC as she dropped four triples to light up the nets.

She added 20 points and Steffen poured in 10 points to lead the way in the win over Tri County-Northeast.

“The keys to all three games have been our ball pressure on defense,” Coach Wortmann said. “We have been able to create offense with our defense and put our opponents in tough spots with our full court press. The energy level from our girls has been great this past week. The girls are understanding our game plans and executing them.”

They will enter another busy week in hopes of keeping their run going.

“We will see two conference teams which will be a good test to see how we are progressing this season,” Coach Wortmann said. “We will need to keep the ball pressure high and team defense to win this week.”

Wortmann said the girls are also doing a better job on shot selection.

“Our patience on the offensive side of the ball is improving. Breaking a press and then making smart decisions as we come up the court has improved,” he said. “This has come with practice and time. The girls are learning to play together and the role they each have on the team.”

One of those girls, sophomore Laney Kathol, has come a long way this year and has been a starter providing five points per outing while helping be the “motor” of the team’s press with her length and ability to go coast to coast Coach Wortmann said.

“I feel like coming into the season I was a little bit nervous and we were playing a lot of good teams,” Kathol said. “Then the team started to relax a little bit and come together more, and it has helped me to relax and look for more open shots. I feel like we are playing really well and communicating, which helps us a lot.

“I feel like I have gained more confidence playing more games and a few more minutes. I am finally opening up and playing like a full player instead of being scared half the time.”

Kathol was also pleased with the team’s overall performance.

“We played really good during Osmond and against Laurel, we had beaten them before, so we felt confident going in,” Kathol said. “We are doing really well with our press right now and getting a lot of steals and not having as many turnovers.”

SCORING Cedar - Brynn Wortmann, 15; Jordyn Steffen, 11; Laney Kathol, 8; Gracie Dickes, 5; Makenzie Arens, 3; Megan Heimes, 3. Osmond - K Moes, 17; E Herrera, 6; G Gansebom, 5; M Aschoff, 4.

Rebounds Cedar - Brooklyn Kuehn, 5; Laney Kathol, 4; Mackenzie Arens, 3; Brynn Wortmann, 3; Jordyn Steffen, 2; Gracie Dickes, 2; Megan Heimes, 2. Osmond - M Aschoff, 5; K Moes, 5; E Herrera, 4; G Gansebom, 3; C Gutz, 1; H Kreinert, 1.

ASSISTS Cedar - Brooklyn Kuehn, 2; Gracie Dickes, 1.

STEALS Cedar - Brynn Wortmann, 2; Laney Kathol, 1; Gracie Dickes, 1; Jordyn Steffen, 1; Brooklyn Kuehn, 1.

SCORING Cedar - Brynn Wortmann, 29; Jordyn Steffen, 7; Gracie Dickes, 5; Laney Kathol, 4; Megan Heimes, 4; Brooklyn Kuehn, 4.

Rebounds Cedar - Laney Kathol, 7; Brooklyn Kuehn, 5; Megan Heimes, 4; Brynn Wortmann, 3; Jordyn Steffen, 2; Gracie Dickes, 2; Mackenzie Arens, 1; Elly Becker, 1.

STEALS Cedar - Brooklyn Kuehn, 5; Mackenzie Arens, 2; Jordyn Steffen, 1; Lanie Kathol, 1; Megan Heimes, 1; Brynn Wortmann, 1.

SCORING Cedar - Brynn Wortmann, 20; Jordyn Steffen, 10; Brooklyn Kuehn, 8; Megan Heimes, 4; Laney Kathol, 3.

REBOUNDS Cedar - Brooklyn Kuehn, 8; Megan Heimes, 4; Laney Kathol, 3; Jordyn Steffen, 3; Brynn Wortmann, 2; Cady Uttecht, 1; Mackenzie Arens, 1; Elly Becker, 1; Grace Wortmann, 1.

ASSISTS Cedar - Jordyn Steffen, 1; Brynn Wortmann, 1.

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