By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – In the first two weeks of the girls basketball season, Noblesville has developed a nice balancing act.
The Millers have been putting on a show over their first three games, with what seems like a cast of hundreds who are capable of shooting 3s and scoring a bunch of points. Noblesville put on another performance Saturday at The Mill, as the Class 4A No. 2 Millers beat 3A No. 4 Garrett 79-57.
The Railroaders got Noblesville down 5-0 early in the first period, but the Millers answered with a 16-1 run. Meredith Tippner made two 3-pointers during that run, then added another 3 to put Noblesville ahead 19-8. The score then became 22-8 after Ava Shoemaker threw in a triple, and she was just getting started.
Noblesville led 26-12 at the end of the quarter, and Reagan Wilson began the second period with – what else? – a 3-pointer. Kaitlyn Shoemaker made a 3 to put the Millers up 32-14.
“I love the balance that we’re playing with,” said Noblesville coach Donna Buckley. The Millers have a McDonald’s All-American and 2023 Miss Basketball candidate in Ashlynn Shade, who had six points through the first quarter and would be heard from during the remainder of the game, “but to have so many kids with her that can take that pressure off her on scoring is what makes this group really special right now,” said Buckley.
Garrett cut Noblesville’s lead to 32-22 by making its own 8-0 run, but Shade put an end to that with six straight points on a triple and a traditional three-point play to push the Millers up 38-22. The Railroaders would come back during the period, though, and had Noblesville’s lead back down to 10 by halftime, at 44-34.
A layin from Garrett’s Bailey Kelham opened the third quarter, but the Millers again pushed back, going on a 10-0 run. This time Wilson started it, scoring five straight points with a layin and a 3. Tippner scored off a Shade steal, and Ava Shoemaker nailed a 3. She would go on to score eight points in the third quarter.
Noblesville’s lead hit 20 when Dani Mendez made a layin, putting the Millers ahead 65-45. Garrett scored to end the third period, but Mendez opened the fourth with a pair of free throws. A quick 6-0 run gave Noblesville a 73-50 lead, and the Millers stayed in front by around that margin until the final buzzer.
Ava Shoemaker led Noblesville with 18 points, totaling four 3-pointers.
“That’s the second night in a row we’ve had a kid come off the bench and be our leading scorer,” said Buckley. “Those things are really important. You’ve got to have kids who can score that are in your starting five as well as your bench.”
Tippner, the freshman, had 17 points, and also made four 3-pointers.
“She’s pretty good,” said Buckley. “I think she’s another one that’s going to be a Miss Basketball candidate when it’s all said and done. She’s just a great competitor.” Buckley noted that Tippner was a soccer star for the Millers this past fall, and “brought that culture” over to the basketball team.
Shade also had 17 points, while Wilson contributed 16 points. Shade and Mendez led the rebounds with seven each. Shade also had seven assists and six steals.
Wilson dished out six assists and pulled five rebounds, while Kaitlyn Shoemaker handed out five assists. Tippner had six rebounds and four steals and Ava Shoemaker had five assists.
Noblesville is 3-0 and hosts Brownsburg on Friday to begin Hoosier Crossroads Conference play.
NOBLESVILLE 79, GARRETT 57
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Kaitlyn Shoemaker 1-4 0-0 3 0
Ashlynn Shade 7-15 2-3 17 2
Reagan Wilson 7-11 0-0 16 3
Meredith Tippner 6-11 1-2 17 3
Dani Mendez 1-2 2-2 4 3
Brooklyn Ely 2-9 0-0 4 0
Ava Shoemaker 6-15 2-2 18 2
Carly Motz 0-3 0-0 0 0
Aubrey Novinger 0-0 0-0 0 0
Kate Rollins 0-1 0-0 0 0
Bri Gray 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 30-71 7-9 79 13
Score by Quarters
Garrett 12 22 13 10 – 57
Noblesville 26 18 21 14 – 79
Noblesville 3-point shooting (12-36) A. Shoemaker 4-11, Tippner 4-6, Wilson 2-4, Shade 1-4, K. Shoemaker 1-2, Ely 0-6, Motz 0-2, Rollins 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (31) Shade 7, Mendez 7, Tippner 6, A. Shoemaker 5, Wilson 5, K. Shoemaker 1.