GIRLS HOOPS: Exira-EHK readies itself for tall task at No. 8-ranked Adair-Casey

Spartans have won eight straight games, last defeat came at hands of Lady Bombers

By Drew Herron - AJ/NT Sports / Feb. 8, 2014

ELK HORN – The Spartans have won eight straight games and appear to be playing as good of basketball as they’ve seen all season long.

A lot of the wrinkles have been ironed out while Exira-EHK has driven its scoring average to over 52 points-per-game, and pushed its overall record to 15-4.

But on Monday night, No. 12-ranked Exira-EHK will run into the only other team hotter than them in the Rolling Valley Conference…Adair-Casey.

After starting the season 1-2, the Lady Bombers have stumbled just once since Dec. 3, and despite a pair of setbacks to Ar-We-Va, maintain a grip on first place in the RVC.

Adair-Casey was the last team to defeat Exira-EHK, a frustrating 66-55 defeat on its home court.

Don’t for a second think that the Spartans don’t remember that experience.

“We understand how difficult it is going to be, because Adair is playing some great basketball right now,” Spartans coach Tom Petersen says. “They are fabulous, and we’ve definitely got our work cut out for us. I just hope our girls are up for the challenge.”

Adair-Casey’s offense is centered around senior London Vais, who leads the conference in scoring at 26 points-per-game. She shoots 54 percent from the field, 36 percent from beyond the arc, and is hitting 86 percent of her free throws.

There is no way to tiptoe around it, keeping a lid on Vais might be the best or only chance the Spartans have if they want to split the season series with AC.

“It all starts with Vais, she’s just so versatile,” coach Petersen says. “She can go inside, she can go outside, and she handles the ball exceptionally well. She is a girl who you can tell has put a lot of time in during the summer to get to where she’s at, and she’s earned it.”

Aside from Vais, AC has five other players averaging between five and eight points per game, giving them other means to put the ball in the basket.

“They have a good supporting cast around her. Players without flashy numbers, but they’ve got five other options,” coach Petersen says. “We know we are not going to shut down Vais, we understand that. We just want to contain her, and try to limit her looks as much as possible.”

If there are lessons to be learned and applied from the last meeting with AC, it means stepping up its transition defensively, and of course, take care of the ball to limit turnovers.

Exira-EHK is coming off a 56-32 victory over Glidden-Ralston last Friday night in which junior forward Rachel Smith finished with 18 points and 13 boards to help lead the way.

One game remains on the schedule before the Spartans open Regional Tournament play Thursday (Feb. 13) at home against West Harrison.

Before the high stakes of the playoffs, Exira-EHK will get one stiff final test before embarking on the tournament trail.

Coach Petersen says the Spartans wouldn’t want it any other way.

“We expect to face an extremely tough team, especially on their home court,” he says of AC. “We’re going into the last game of the season, and we are playing the best team in the conference. That’s the opportunity we have in front of us, and I hope the girls are excited for it.”