Northeast Nodaway's girls were playing the second of back to back contests and their shots had not been falling against Albany even though they won 51-16 Thursday. But everything was dropping for them Friday night against Stewartsville as they put the game away early against the Cardinals and won 69-26 to claim the Platte Valley Conference crown.
Once again, a strong start from Jacqueline Schulte (18 points, 5 assists, two 3-pointers) was key as she scored two early baskets right off the bat, which opened things up for everyone else. Consequently, Emily Bryant (16 points, career high) was open as she hit four 3-pointers on the night as her teammates sensed that she was on fire. Blair Schmitz, who got off to a strong start, getting two steals right off the bat, added 14. Northeast was able to shoot Stewartsville out of their zone after the first quarter, forcing them to go man, which allowed them to score at will for the rest of the game; Kristen Sherry (4 assists) showed she was back at full strength from an illness as she followed a lights-out defensive night in which she shut down Albany's Melissa Abreu (33 points and 24 points in two previous games) with a solid floor game in which she was finding the open person. Rachel Runde was finding the range Friday night as she added eight points.
Blair Schmitz scored off a steal right off the bat and then Jacqueline Schulte hit two buckets early, getting a layup off a Michelle Schulte offensive carom and then grabbing a putback to make it 6-0 at the 6:31 mark. Katie Roach hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key, but then Rachel Runde found Emily Bryant at the top of the key to start an 8-0 run; both of Bryant's buckets in the period answered Stewartsville buckets. Jacqueline Schulte then inbounded to Blair Schmitz for a driving layup, Michelle Schulte found Schmitz open inside, and then Emily Bryant got a steal and found Kristen Sherry open for a layup to make it 14-3 at the 1:08 mark. Alexa Hughes got open against Northeast's press, but then Jacqueline Schulte found Emily Bryant at the top of the key for a 3-pointer and then Jessica Redden found Schulte open from downtown on the right wing as Northeast hit two in 23 seconds at the close of the third to squelch any comeback hopes and make it 20-5.
Jacqueline Schulte and Emily Bryant worked together powerfully at the start of the second quarter as Bryant found Jacqueline open on the left baseline and then Jac posted up inside and found Bryant open on the top of the key to make it 25-5. Two buckets by Emily Klepees finally got the Cardinals going, but Jacqueline Schulte converted a steal into a 3-point play and Rachel Runde found Blair Schmitz open inside to keep the margin at 30-9. Stewartsville made a comeback bid with both Schulte and Schmitz on the bench for a break as they began lobbing the ball at will into Alexa Hughes to make it 30-13, but then Blair and Jacqueline came back in and Schulte kicked one out to Rachel Runde at the top of the key to start another run for Northeast. Schulte then stripped a Stewartsville player from behind after they just got a defensive board and turned it into a layup; Kristen Sherry then found a cutting Michelle Schulte open for a layup. Sherry then cut inside and took a pass; the defense collapsed on her, which freed Blair Schmitz for a weak side layup and 3-point play. Sherry then found Jacqueline Schulte open for a 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 42-13 at the half.
At the start of the second half, Rachel Runde got a steal and drive for Northeast. Mary Roach countered with a basket for Stewartsville, but then Hallie Oelze got a monster stuff, grabbed the ensuing carom, and found Blair Schmitz in transition. Schmitz started with a hard fake to her left side and then showed a deadly crossover dribble to her right and finished with her right hand to make it 46-15. Consecutive buckets from Alexa Hughes made it 46-19, but then Blair Schmitz and Michelle Schulte hit free throws and Jacqueline Schulte drove down the middle of the lane and found Kristan Judd alone in the left corner for a shot that made it 50-19. Emily Klepees answered with a 3-pointer for Stewartsville, but Jacqueline Schulte answered with a free throw and Rachel Runde found Emily Bryant open at the top of the key for a 3-pointer that made it 54-22 after three quarters and triggered the running clock.
Northeast continued their scoring binge even with their second string in this time as Kenzie Waldeier grabbed a long carom on the left wing and scored from there to open the scoring. Consecutive 3-pointers from Emily Bryant and Taylor Dougan made it 62-22 before Erika Hovenga managed a drive for the Cardinals. Kristen Sherry then added a free throw for Northeast and then found Rachel Runde on her favorite spot on the baseline as the Bluejays were driving at will against Stewartsville during the final period. Presley Galloway scored off a fast break for the Cardinals, but then Emily Bryant drove straight down the middle for a layup and then Rachel Runde drove down the left baseline to round out the scoring.
No comments:
Post a Comment