By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The Noblesville girls basketball team started off 2019 on a highly positive note, getting a big win at The Mill on Wednesday.
The Millers overwhelmed Kokomo 73-21. It was the first win of the season for Noblesville at home, and it came in front of a nice crowd, including several former Miller players, all of whom had to be happy about the future of the program after Noblesville’s younger players had great games.
“Every kid that played tonight scored,” said Millers coach Donna Buckley. “I thought we shared the ball really well. We had one turnover in the game. That’s hard to do. I don’t care who you’re playing.”
Noblesville scored the first 12 points of the game. Sophomore Mallory Miller had the first five points (a 3-pointer and a layin off an assist by junior Abby Haley), then sophomore Emily Wood hit consecutive baskets.
“Our sophomores really got us rolling early,” said Buckley.
Senior Maddie Knight continued the run, hitting a 3-pointer to put the Millers up 12-0. The Wildkats got on the board halfway through the first quarter on a layin by Sanighia Balantine, but Noblesville led 23-7 once the period ended. Sarah Etchison helped out with a 3-pointer.
A Kokomo basket from Danielle Wikert started the second period, but that was followed by a 21-0 run from Noblesville. Knight and Etchison both nailed 3s, and seven different Miller players scored during the run. Knight hit another 3 late in the quarter, helping Noblesville to a 49-13 lead.
The Millers continued to roll in the second half. Mallory Johnson hit a 3 in the third quarter, then Abby Haley scored twice off of steals late in the period. Noblesville led 60-21 after three, then outscored the Wildkats 13-0 in the fourth quarter. Emery Denison and Abby Baker both came off the bench to score baskets in the final two minutes of the game.
Knight finished the game with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, while fellow senior Johnson scored 12. As for the sophomores, Wood added 12 points and Miller had nine.
“With all the different injuries and things that we’ve had, both of them have had opportunities to start some,” said Buckley. “Boy, they really have just grown up this year. They were forced into the fire early and you’re seeing just everything start to slow down for them and they’re starting to play really well.”
Johnson and Miller each pulled four rebounds. Haley had an outstanding game with eight steals, six points and six assists. Etchison added eight points and Knight handed out four assists.
Noblesville is 5-11 and plays at Martinsville on Saturday afternoon.
Noblesville 73, Kokomo 21
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Mallory Johnson 3-11 5-5 12 1
Maddie Knight 6-13 2-4 18 2
Abby Haley 3-7 0-0 6 2
Mallory Miller 4-5 0-0 9 1
Emily Wood 5-6 2-2 12 3
Anna Kiser 1-2 0-0 2 3
Sarah Etchison 3-8 0-2 8 0
Makenna Mundy 1-3 0-0 2 1
Abby Baker 1-2 0-0 2 0
Emery Denison 1-1 0-0 2 0
Totals 28-58 9-13 73 13
Score by Quarters
Kokomo 7 6 8 0 – 21
Noblesville 23 26 11 13 – 73
Noblesville 3-point shooting (8-26) Knight 4-8, Etchison 2-7, Johnson 1-8, Miller 1-1, Baker 0-1, Haley 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (27) Johnson 4, Miller 4, Knight 3, Kiser 3, Wood 3, Haley 2, Mundy 2, Denison 1, Etchison 1, team 4.
Noblesville sophomore Mallory Miller scored nine points in the Millers’ Wednesday win over Kokomo at The Mill. (Kent Graham)