HILLARY SMITH: Next goal is to solve the turnover battle

MUNSTER | Tracie Mezera sighed when asked about Highland's turnovers against Lowell in Wednesday's girls basketball sectional.

Then she shook her head.

"We didn't take care of the ball," Mezera said. "I think the big difference, we both had turnovers, but they converted theirs and we didn't."

That's not to say that Lowell didn't commit its own share of turnovers. The Red Devils needed every one of Carley Austgen's nine steals and every one of Kalyne Godbolt's five steals for the 13-point win.

"That was the difference right there and the thing that stood out," Mezera said. "Neither team took care of the ball, but when we did it, they took it and scored and when they did it, we couldn't."

The Red Devils have a day to cure their turnover flu.

Lake Central, set to be Lowell's foe in the second game of Friday's Munster Sectional semifinal double-header, committed 18 of their own turnovers in a 47-38 win over the host Mustangs.

"I was a little disappointed that some of our turnovers were unforced and I think we began to just not make smart decisions," Indians coach Leslie Iwema said. "It's not what I would hope for when it comes to turnovers, but I hope that we can watch it on film and hopefully grow from it."

Here's the thing: girls basketball tends to lend itself to more turnovers than boys basketball. The girls game is more fundamental, but without pickup games and constant ball-handling, the turnover ratio starts to grow.

"It's a control thing and being strong with the ball," Munster coach Matt Backs said. "Girls aren't as strong with the ball as boys are or tend to be."

At this point in the season, coaches aren't coaching to avoid the turnover anymore. They're coaching to stop the next opponent.

When Munster went on an 11-0 run to take a lead in the third quarter, Lake Central turned the ball over four times, including three unforced turnovers.

When Lake Central returned the favor, retaking the lead in the fourth quarter, Munster committed six turnovers in the first 4:11 as the Indians scored six points off of those turnovers.

"I think it was just that we were gassed," Backs said.

"Every turnover that we give them is an opportunity for them to score, and we have to limit their opportunities for them to score," Lake Central senior Nikki Adams said. "We're just trying to be patient with the ball and take the best shot."

This column solely represents the writer's opinion. Reach her at hillary.smith@nwi.com.