By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
The Noblesville girls basketball team met the No. 1-ranked team in Class 3A on Thursday, when Northwestern came to The Mill.
The Tigers left Noblesville with a 51-38 victory. Northwestern got out to a fast start and led by 22 points at one time during the third quarter, before the Millers made a big comeback to get back in contention. The Tigers are 13-1 for the season, with their only loss to Louisville Mercy, a top Kentucky team.
“They’re very talented,” said Noblesville coach Donna Buckley. “We did a great job on their two studs. They combined for 11 points and they came in averaging 35. So we did a great job on those kids. We just needed to make shots in the second quarter. That was the difference in the game.”
Northwestern led 12-2 after the first quarter, with Emily Kiser getting the only Millers points in the period. The Tigers then led by as much as 27-7 in the second quarter, then 29-11 at halftime.
“We just missed a lot of shots,” said Buckley. “My gosh, we missed so many layups.”
The Panthers led 37-15 midway through the third period, but then Noblesville went on a 15-2 run to finish the quarter. Maddie Knight and Mallory Johnson both scored five points in that run, with Knight making a layin and a three-point play, followed by Johnson hitting a 3-pointer and her own layin.
Kiser also had a three-point play, and Madison Whetro made two free throws with 2.2 seconds left in the period.
“We didn’t make shots in the first half and I thought we pouted a little bit because of that and got ourselves down,” said Buckley. After a halftime talk – “You’re getting the shots you want, it’s not as if we’re turning the ball over 20 times,” the coach told her team – Noblesville turned things around.
“Our kids came out, made shots and played defense and gave ourselves a chance,” said Buckley.
The Millers’ run got them to within 39-30 going into the fourth quarter, and they were still within 45-36 with 4:36 left in the game. But Northwestern was able to hold Noblesville off in the final few minutes.
Kiser finished the game with 18 points and eight rebounds. Knight scored nine points and also made four steals.
The Millers are off until next Friday, when they host their own tournament. Noblesville will play New Palestine in the first semi-final game, which tips off at 10 a.m. The second semi-final features 3A No. 2 Greensburg taking on Southport, and starts at noon. The consolation game starts at 6 p.m., with the championship at 8 p.m.
Noblesville’s Mallory Johnson scored five points as part of a 15-2 Millers run in the third quarter of Noblesville’s game with Class 3A No. 1 Northwestern Thursday night at The Mill. (Kent Graham)