:quality(70):focal(809x585:819x595)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/IVBIVTBMRRD7JDPCXXMFFH2QWA.jpg)
MORRIS — Through its first nine games of the season, Morris did not have any close games.
In fact, while running out to a 9-0 record to start the season, the closest any team had come to Morris was 23 points, which was accomplished by Interstate Eight Conference rival LaSalle-Peru on Friday.
Tuesday’s I-8 game against Ottawa, though, was a different matter altogether.
The Pirates – and Marlie Orlandi in particular – were red hot from the 3-point line through the first three quarters. Ottawa drained 12 triples before the fourth, including eight by Orlandi, who finished with nine 3s on her way to a game-high 30 points.
But it was the defensive effort turned in by Morris (10-0, 2-0) down the stretch that was the difference as the hosts stayed undefeated by outscoring the Pirates (7-3, 1-1) 15-0 in the final 5:30 to come away with a 60-55 victory.
Morris trailed 47-41 entering the fourth quarter and closed it to 47-43 on a basket by Landrie Callahan, who finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Ottawa, though, answered with back-to-back 3-pointers by Skylar Dorsey (11 points) and Orlandi to take a 53-43 lead with 6:43 to play.
The two teams traded baskets for a 55-45 Pirate advantage before the Morris defense took over.
Layken Callahan, who scored a team-high 24 points, began the comeback with a putback basket, then got a steal and layup and completed a three-point play to cut it to 55-50 with 4:25 to play.
On the defensive end, she was given the assignment of shadowing Orlandi, who did not score again. The rest of the Morris defense was equally stingy, as no one from Ottawa found the basket either.
“This was a big accomplishment for us,” Layken Callahan said. “It was a really close game and we were behind for most of it, which we haven’t had happen this year.
“I was going box-and-1 on No. 22 [Orlandi]. We didn’t want her to get any more open shots. Lily [Hansen] and Landrie did a great job of getting the rebounds, and the guards, Alyssa Jepson and Tessa Shannon, were great at getting everyone the ball. It was definitely a team win.”
Shannon delivered a steal and layup to cut it to 55-52 with 3:21 remaining, and Landrie Callahan scored underneath with 2:49 to play to make it 55-54. With 1:42 left, Layken Callahan assisted on a basket by Jepson to give Morris its first lead since 2-0 at 56-55. Jepson then was fouled on a fast break and made 1 of 2 free throws for a 57-55 lead.
With 42 seconds remaining, Layken Callahan was fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws for a 58-55 lead. She made it a two-possession game about 10 seconds later, and Hansen (12 points, 10 rebounds) sealed it with 11.8 seconds left with another free throw.
Ottawa finished with 14 3-pointers. Along with the nine from Orlandi, Dorsey (11 points) made three while Mary Stisser and Ella Schmitz each had one. That hot shooting helped the Pirates lead 19-13 at the end of the first quarter and 32-28 at halftime.
“Our defense in the fourth quarter was outstanding,” Morris coach Mike Lutz said. “Layken was face-guarding No. 22, which was huge.
“The girls kept fighting. It’s easy to put your head down if you are down 10 in the fourth quarter, but they didn’t. Everyone did their job and we got some steals and breakaway baskets to kind of jump start us. We needed a close game like that.”