By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
NOBLESVILLE – On Tuesday night at The Mill, the Millers couldn’t have been more anxious to be playing on their home floor.
Junior Meredith Tippner was able to become the 11th all-time in Noblesville girls basketball history to score 1,000 points as the Millers cruised right past Mount Vernon, 58-34.
“I think it’s just knowing that you have this great community surrounding you and the people who have gotten you to this place,” said an ecstatic Tippner.
The Millers jumped out on a mission to get the early big lead of 15-0 and did so thanks in big part to Tippner scoring 10.
“Outside of a game or two, we’ve played really well all season. We’ve just played really good teams,” Noblesville head coach Donna Buckley stated.
Leading 16-8 through one quarter, Noblesville and Mt. Vernon matched in the second to set up the halftime score for a comfortable lead of 32-16.
“It’s fun to see our kids on the other side and finally be able to reap the benefits of their hard work,” Buckley continued.
The lead stretched to 23 after three at 47-24. Three C.C. Quigley field goals down low and another couple from Tippner, complimented by Ava Shoemaker’s second triple distanced the Millers from the Marauders even more.
Later on in the game, it became a moment to pause for celebration. The clock stopped a couple of minutes into the fourth quarter when Tippner reached the 1,000-point mark.
“Whether it’s your parents or trainers, your coaches and especially the girls that got me here tonight. The first thing we said when we got in the locker room was we had 19 assists. That’s what is going to win us the game. I scored that last one off an assist and I can’t do without the other people around me,” Tippner continued.
The Millers would keep their lead above 20, thanks to their suffocating defensive pressure in a 58-34 home win. That heavy pressure forced 25 Mount Vernon turnovers, 17 of those being Noblesville steals.
“She’s done that playing with Ashlynn (Shade), who was on pace to score 2,000. And Reagan is a kid who’s going to score 1,300-1,400 points. So, she’s been surrounded by a lot of other kids who can score,” said a proud Buckley.
“It’s a testament to this entire team, but just a kid who can find ways to score. Whether that’s offensive rebounds or defense turning things into points. She’s just a tremendous asset to our program the last three years,” Buckley continued on Tippner.
Tippner joins teammate Reagan Wilson in the 1,000-point club. Those two are part of a group of seven during Buckley’s 16 seasons who’ve accomplished the same feat. Prior to this season, Ashlynn Shade, Emily Kiser, Alexis Shannon, current junior varsity head coach Katelyn O’Reilly and Chey Arvin.
Tippner led all scorers with a game-high 24, grabbed nine rebounds and also had six steals. Ava Shoemaker had 12 points, five rebounds and dished out five assists. Reagan Wilson scored 11, but more importantly had six assists and four steals herself. C.C. Quigley chipped in with 11 and also snagged a handful of boards.
Noblesville (11-7) has now won four in a row. The Millers hit the road on Friday night in HCC action as the first game at 6 p.m. in the girls-boys varsity doubleheader at Class 4A No. 14 Zionsville (15-4).
NOBLESVILLE 58, MOUNT VERNON 34
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Ava Shoemaker 5-13 0-0 12 0
Reagan Wilson 3-12 2-2 11 1
Meredith Tippner 11-21 2-6 24 2
Kate Rollins 0-2 0-0 0 2
C.C. Quigley 4-7 3-4 11 0
Ally Hutchinson 0-2 0-0 0 0
Brookelyn Grayson 0-2 0-0 0 0
Ellie Motz 0-1 0-0 0 0
Addy Horvath 0-0 0-0 0 0
Bri Gray 0-1 0-0 0 0
Totals 23-61 7-12 58 5
Score by Quarters
Mount Vernon 8 8 8 10 – 34
Noblesville 16 16 15 11 – 58
Noblesville 3-point shooting (5-20) Wilson 3-9, Shoemaker 2-8, Tippner 0-2, Grayson 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (32) Tippner 9, Shoemaker 5, Quigley 5, Hutchinson 2, Wilson 2, Grayson 1, Tollins 1, team 7.